手紙を読んだ

read the letter

→ 手紙
phrase Uncommon #19,413
read the letter 手紙 means “letter,” and 読んだ is the past tense of 読む, “to read.” Depending on context, 手紙 can also mean “a letter” rather than “the letter.”
JA: 昨日、母から届いた手紙を読んだ。
EN: Yesterday, I read the letter I received from my mother.

彼女は涙を流しながら彼の手紙を読んだ

She read his letter with tears streaming down her cheeks.

今夜も同じ大雨でも心に彼のことだけが手紙を読んだかな

Even in tonight’s heavy rain, my heart is filled with thoughts of him alone. I wonder if he read the letter.

— 恋する惑星 (1994)

手紙を読んだ途端に彼女は泣き出した

The moment she read the letter, she burst into tears.

の前で前に書いた手紙を読んだ

I read the letter I had written earlier at my desk.

彼女は胸をどきどきさせてその手紙を読んだ

Her heart pounding, she read the letter.

だけがその手紙を読んだ

Only he read the letter.

彼はその手紙を読んだかもしれない

He may have read the letter.

彼はほお涙を流してその手紙を読んだ

He read the letter with tears streaming down his cheeks.

その手紙を読んだとき、私は不安を感じなかった

I didn't feel anxious when I read that letter.