1.
reading and writing; literacy
The ability to read and write, or the act of reading and writing. Often used to refer to basic literacy skills.
A compound of 読む (to read) and 書く (to write), referring to the fundamental literacy skills. Often used in educational contexts and discussions about language ability.
Common collocations
- 読み書きができる: to be able to read and write
- 読み書きを習う: to learn reading and writing
- 読み書きそろばん: reading, writing, and arithmetic (the three Rs)
Related words
- 識字: literacy — more formal and used in academic or policy contexts
- 文盲: illiteracy — inability to read and write