Onyomi and kunyomi are the two main ways to pronounce kanji (Chinese characters) in Japanese.
Here's a breakdown of each:
Understanding Kanji Readings
Kanji characters, adopted from Chinese, have two primary types of readings: onyomi and kunyomi. Knowing the difference helps in understanding and learning Japanese vocabulary.
| Reading | Origin | Usage | Example (Kanji: 人 - person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onyomi | Chinese pronunciation | Multi-kanji compounds; often sounds more like Chinese. | Jin (ex: jinbutsu - 人物 - person) |
| Kun'yomi | Native Japanese pronunciation | Single kanji words or when a kanji is followed by hiragana (Japanese script) | Hito (ex: hito - 人 - person) |
Onyomi (音読み): The Sino-Japanese Reading
Onyomi is the pronunciation of the kanji based on how it was originally pronounced in Chinese. According to the provided reference, there are often multiple onyomi readings for a single kanji, stemming from different Chinese provinces and dynasties.
Key characteristics of Onyomi:
- Often used in multi-kanji compound words. According to the reference, you generally use on'yomi when a word is made up of a multi-kanji compound.
- Tends to sound more like Chinese.
- Categorized into different types based on which period of Chinese pronunciation it's derived from (e.g., Go-on, Kan-on, Tō-on).
Onyomi Examples
- 学校 (gakkō) - school (学校 is a multi-kanji compound)
- 大学 (daigaku) - university (大学 is a multi-kanji compound)
Kunyomi (訓読み): The Native Japanese Reading
Kunyomi is the native Japanese reading of a kanji, representing the meaning of the Chinese character with a corresponding Japanese word. The provided reference states that kun'yomi is the Japanese reading of kanji.
Key characteristics of Kunyomi:
- Often used for single kanji words.
- Often used when a kanji is followed by hiragana (Japanese phonetic script) – this hiragana part is called okurigana.
- Represents the original Japanese word that conveyed the same meaning as the Chinese character.
Kunyomi Examples
- 人 (hito) - person (single kanji)
- 食べる (taberu) - to eat (食 is the kanji, べる is the okurigana in hiragana.)
- 大きい (ōkii) - big (大 is the kanji, きい is the okurigana in hiragana.)
When to Use Onyomi vs. Kunyomi
There aren't always hard and fast rules, but here are some guidelines:
- Multi-Kanji Words: Usually use onyomi.
- Single Kanji Words: Often use kunyomi.
- Kanji + Hiragana: Almost always use kunyomi.
- Exceptions: Japanese has many exceptions, so memorization is often necessary.
