noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
monotone reading; wooden delivery
Describes reading aloud or speaking in a flat, expressionless way, as if just reciting words without natural intonation or emotion. Often used for acting, narration, or public speaking that sounds stiff.
彼のスピーチは棒読みで、聞いているのがつらかった。
His speech was delivered in a monotone, and it was painful to listen to.
新人アナウンサーは
The new announcer read the script in a flat monotone, failing to convey any emotion.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
reading Chinese classics without translation
A traditional method of reading classical Chinese texts (kanbun) by pronouncing the characters in Japanese order without providing a full Japanese translation. This is a specialized, somewhat historical usage.
漢文の授業では、まず棒読みで音読してから現代語訳を考える。
In classical Chinese class, we first read aloud in the traditional monotone style before considering a modern Japanese translation.