Most kanji have more than one way to be read in Japanese. The two main types are on'yomi (音読み), readings that came from Chinese, and kun'yomi (訓読み), native Japanese readings that were matched to the character’s meaning. Knowing when to use which reading is one of the trickiest and most important parts of learning kanji.
This lesson explains what on'yomi and kun'yomi are, how they differ, when each is used, and how to study them without getting overwhelmed.
音読み (On'yomi) Chinese-Derived Readings
On'yomi are readings that reflect how the character was pronounced when it was borrowed from Chinese (in different periods and from different regions). They are usually written in katakana in dictionaries and learning materials to distinguish them from kun'yomi (which are often in hiragana).
Typical traits of on'yomi
- Often one or two syllables (e.g. カ, コウ, ショウ).
- Used in compound words (jukugo): 電話 (denwa, telephone), 学校 (gakkō, school).
- Rarely used alone as a single kanji; they usually appear with other kanji.
- Same character can have multiple on'yomi (e.g. from different Chinese borrowings).
| Kanji | On'yomi | Compound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 電 | デン | 電車 (densha) | train |
| 話 | ワ | 電話 (denwa) | telephone |
| 学 | ガク | 学校 (gakkō) | school |
| 校 | コウ | 学校 (gakkō) | school |
訓読み (Kun'yomi) Native Japanese Readings
Kun'yomi are the native Japanese words that were attached to kanji because they matched the meaning. They are usually written in hiragana in dictionaries. Kun'yomi are often used when the kanji appears alone (as a word by itself) or with okurigana hiragana that spell out the rest of the word (e.g. the verb ending).
Typical traits of kun'yomi
- Often longer than on'yomi (e.g. やま, ひと, たべる).
- Used for standalone words: 山 (yama, mountain), 人 (hito, person).
- Used with okurigana for verbs and adjectives: 食べる (taberu), 高い (takai).
- One kanji can have several kun'yomi (different native words with similar meaning).
| Kanji | Kun'yomi | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 山 | やま | 山 (yama) | mountain |
| 人 | ひと | 人 (hito) | person |
| 食 | た（べる） | 食べる (taberu) | to eat |
| 高 | たか（い） | 高い (takai) | high, expensive |
When to Use Which Reading?
There is no single rule that works for every word, but these patterns help:
Use on'yomi when…
- The word is a kanji compound (2+ kanji, no okurigana): 先生、電車、日本語
- It’s a sino-Japanese word (often formal or technical): 経済、政治、医学
Use kun'yomi when…
- The kanji stands alone: 山、川、人
- There is okurigana (verb/adjective endings): 行く、大きい、見る
- It’s a native Japanese word: 今日(きょう), 昨日(きのう) note: exceptions exist!
Important
Many words are exceptions. For example, 今日 is read きょう (kun-based), and 一人 is ひとり (kun). The best approach is to learn the word and its reading together, rather than trying to guess from the kanji alone.
One Kanji, Many Readings
It’s normal for one character to have several on'yomi and several kun'yomi. The reading depends on the word. For example:
| Kanji | Reading | Word | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 人 | ひと | 人 (person) | kun |
| じん | 日本人 (Japanese person) | on | |
| にん | 一人 (one person) | on | |
| 日 | ひ / か | 日 (day, sun) | kun |
| ニチ / ジツ | 日本、今日 | on (in compounds) |
You don’t need to memorize every possible reading in isolation. Learn words (e.g. 日本人、一人、今日), and the readings will stick in context.
名乗り (Nanori) Name Readings
Some kanji have special readings used mainly in names (people or places). These are called 名乗り (nanori). They can be different from both on'yomi and kun'yomi. For example, 京 in 東京 is キョウ (on), but in the name 京子 it might be きょうこ (name reading). If you see an unexpected reading in a name, it’s often nanori; you can look it up in a name dictionary or ask a native speaker.
How to Study Readings
- Learn words, not just kanji. Study 電車 (densha), 電話 (denwa), 電気 (denki) so that 電 = デン sticks in context.
- Group by character. When you meet a new word, add it to your mental “file” for each kanji (on/kun, compound vs standalone).
- Use audio. Hear the word (e.g. in an app or with a native) so the reading becomes natural.
- Accept exceptions. Some words must simply be memorized (e.g. 今日＝きょう, 明日＝あした). Don’t let them discourage you.
Practical tip
When you look up a new word, note whether it’s a compound (often on) or a single kanji / verb / adjective (often kun). Over time you’ll develop a feel for which reading “sounds right” in which context.
Summary
On'yomi (音読み) are Chinese-derived readings, usually short and used in kanji compounds. Kun'yomi (訓読み) are native Japanese readings, often used when the kanji stands alone or with okurigana. One kanji can have multiple readings; the right one depends on the word. Learn readings inside real words and with audio, and treat exceptions as normal. That way, on'yomi and kun'yomi become a manageable part of your kanji study.
You know on'yomi (Chinese-derived) and kun'yomi (native), and that context decides the reading.
Next up: Continue to JLPT Kanji Requirements below to see how many kanji per level and how to plan your study. 頑張って！