Japanese Words with On‘yomi (Chinese Readings) and Kun‘yomi (Japanese Readings)200

The Japanese language is unique in that it has two distinct reading systems for its written characters: on'yomi (Chinese readings) and kun'yomi (Japanese readings). On'yomi are based on the pronunciation of the characters in Chinese, while kun'yomi are based on the original Japanese pronunciation of the words. This can lead to some confusion when reading Japanese, as the same character can have different readings depending on the context.

There are a few general rules that can help you determine which reading to use for a particular character. On'yomi are typically used for words that are of Chinese origin, such as technical terms and place names. Kun'yomi are typically used for words that are native to Japanese, such as verbs and adjectives. However, there are many exceptions to these rules, so it is important to learn the readings for each character individually.

The following are some of the most common Japanese words that have both on'yomi and kun'yomi:

Character
On'yomi
Kun'yomi
Meaning


人
jin
hito
person


山
san
yama
mountain


水
sui
mizu
water


日
nichi
hi
sun


月
getsu
tsuki
moon


火
ka
hi
fire


木
boku
ki
tree


金
kin
kane
metal


土
do
tsuchi
earth

As you can see, the on'yomi and kun'yomi readings for these characters can be quite different. This can make it difficult to remember which reading to use for a particular word. However, with practice, you will eventually learn the readings for all of the most common characters.

In addition to the on'yomi and kun'yomi readings, many Japanese characters also have a third reading called the nanori. Nanori are readings that are unique to a particular word and are not based on either Chinese or Japanese pronunciation. For example, the character for "Japan" (日本) is read as "nippon" in nanori. Nanori can be difficult to learn, but they are important to know for a few common words.

The Japanese writing system is complex, but it is also fascinating. By understanding the different reading systems for Japanese characters, you can unlock a whole new world of language and culture.

2025-01-26

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