Onyomi vs. Kunyomi: As a result of What You Kanji Isn’t What You Get

So, you simply discovered a model new kanji character.

Then, you come throughout one other bizarre phrase with that kanji learn in a utterly totally different manner.

In some circumstances, a kanji can have greater than seven readings.

This will likely appear overwhelming at first, however there’s a technique to the insanity.

When you perceive the place all of this got here from, you’ll perceive extra about how kanji readings work.

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Reasonably, kanji is believed to have made its option to Japan from China someday between the fifth and eighth centuries AD. No less than, that’s what the proof suggests—we all know that there have been teams in Japan that studied the Chinese language language round this time. (On one other observe, the katakana and hiragana writing methods happened within the ninth century AD.)

As you’ll be able to think about, any time a language interprets from one tradition to a different, issues get modified round. Due to phrase adoptions, trades and simply your common backyard selection interpretations, Japanese grew to become a language made up of many elements.

After all, earlier than its writing system developed into what it’s as we speak, Japan had a spoken language previous to the arrival of Chinese language characters. The next makes an attempt to merge the 2 helped to create these pure variations in kanji readings.

For instance, the onyomi studying of the character for “water” (水) can be すい
, which nearly sounds just like the Chinese language shuǐ. The kunyomi studying can be みず
. Earlier than Chinese language characters have been launched to Japan, みず was how the native Japanese sounded out the phrase for “water” of their language. That pronunciation ultimately merged with the Chinese language character related to that idea.

It’s value noting that I used an oversimplified instance as an instance the primary distinction between onyomi and kunyomi. Chinese language and Japanese phrases didn’t all the time have a one-to-one match, and over time, the Japanese language added its personal connotations as wanted. Hiragana was later added to kanji, tweaking readings and bringing extra that means to every kanji they’re related to.

Now that you simply perceive why Japanese phrases have onyomi and kunyomi readings, it’s time to speak about when to make use of every studying.

• Once you see a number of kanji strung collectively in a compound phrase. These phrases often come from the unique Chinese language readings. Examples embrace 理解 ( りかい
  or “understanding”) and 短期 ( たんき
  or “quick time period”)
• Once you see a phrase with no hiragana. See the identical examples above.
• Once you’re taking a look at a standalone kanji. In case you see a kanji by itself, your go-to possibility must be one of many onyomi readings as with phrases like 一 ( いち
  or “one”) and 八 ( はち
  or “eight”).

• Once you’re saying household names (with a number of exceptions). Examples embrace names like 木村 ( きむら
  ) and 藤井 ( ふじい
  ). This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, although: names similar to 陣内 ( じんない
  ), 伊藤 ( いとう
  ) and 佐藤 ( さとう
  ) are learn within the onyomi model.
• Once you’re saying correct nouns which can be the names of locations (additionally with exceptions). You’ve 長野 ( ながの
  ), 旭川 ( あさひかわ
  ), 熊本 ( くまもと
  ) and 箱根 ( はこね
  ). However, locations similar to 北海道 ( ほっかいどう
  ) and  東京
  (とうきょ う) are learn aloud with the onyomi.
• Once you see a single kanji adopted by a hiragana character that makes up a part of the phrase. You’ll see these ceaselessly in adjectives and verbs. Consider 白い ( しろい
  or “white”) and 食べる ( たべる
  or “to eat”), for instance.

By the way in which, the hiragana that observe kanji readings are referred to as 送り仮名 ( おくりがな
). The truth is, you’ll discover that 送りor “to ship off” makes use of the kunyomi studying for the character 送! So 送り仮名 actually means “sending off letters.”

It is advisable to hearken to Japanese music, watch Japanese commercials and take a look at information studies. You can too use a language studying program like FluentU.

All you need to do is hover over any kanji in a video’s subtitles to immediately see its definition and pronunciation.

No matter methodology you select, the secret is to be taught new kanji and their correct readings in context to recollect them higher.

With follow, you’ll get higher at choosing the proper kanji readings on the proper occasions.

Don’t be embarrassed to be fallacious, and don’t be afraid to ask about phrases that you simply don’t know.

In time, as you get extra aware of the language, these variations will develop into second nature.

All languages have their quirks, and ultimately, that’s what makes them distinctive and particular.

Obtain:
This weblog put up is offered as a handy and transportable PDF that you simply
can take wherever.
Click on right here to get a duplicate. (Obtain)