1.
reading while standing (in a store)
The act of reading books, magazines, or manga at a bookstore or convenience store without purchasing them.
立ち読みをする。
To read (a book/magazine) while standing in the store.
コンビニで漫画を立ち読みしている人がいた。
There was someone reading manga at the convenience store without buying it.
立ち読み禁止と書いてあるのに、気にしない人もいる。
Even though it says 'no standing reading,' some people don't care.
USAGE:
Can be used as a する verb: 立ち読みする. This practice is common in Japanese convenience stores and bookstores. Some stores now wrap magazines in plastic or post 立ち読み禁止 (no standing reading) signs to discourage it.
CULTURAL NOTE:
While often tolerated, 立ち読み is generally considered somewhat inconsiderate. However, it remains a familiar scene in Japanese daily life, especially at convenience stores.
ETYMOLOGY:
立つ (to stand) + 読む (to read). A straightforward compound describing the action.