On'yomi and kun'yomi 音読み・訓読み

on'yomi, kun'yomi · from Japanese

What is the difference between on'yomi and kun'yomi?

On'yomi is the Chinese-derived reading of a kanji and kun'yomi is the native Japanese reading attached to the same character.

When kanji were borrowed, Japanese kept approximations of the Chinese pronunciation (on) and also used them to write native words (kun). Compounds usually take on'yomi, standalone words kun'yomi, but exceptions abound. Some kanji have several on'yomi borrowed at different periods.

Examples

山: yama (kun), san (on, as in 富士山 Fujisan); 人: hito (kun), jin / nin (on); 生: ikiru, umareru, sei, shō and more

Kungfucius says: One character, five readings, zero apologies.