Translation guide
How to express the act of completing the reading of a book, article, or other text in Japanese.
I finished reading the book.
To say that you have finished reading a specific book, article, or document.
The most common and natural way to say 'finish reading'. It is a compound verb combining 'read' (読む) and 'finish' (終わる).
I finished reading that book yesterday.
Please let me know when you finish reading this article.
Emphasizes reading something completely, often implying it was long or challenging. Slightly more emphatic than 読み終わる.
I finished reading a long novel in one night.
A formal, literary term often used in book reviews or academic contexts. Not used in everyday conversation.
I will share my thoughts after finishing reading this book.
To indicate that you have finished reading something aloud, such as a story to a child or a passage in class.
読み終わる is neutral and simply states completion. 読み切る adds a nuance of 'reading through to the end', often implying effort or volume. Use 読み切る when you want to emphasize that you managed to finish a long or difficult text.
I managed to finish reading this thick book in a week.