音読み

• Reading: おんよみ
• Romaji: on'yomi
• Kanji breakdown: 音 (on/oto) — sound, reading; 読 (doku/yo) — read
• Pronunciation: /on.jo.mi/

Meaning

On'yomi; the Chinese-derived reading of a kanji character. One of the two main reading types in Japanese, alongside the native 訓読み.

Japanese kanji have two types of readings: 音読み (on'yomi), borrowed from Chinese pronunciation, and 訓読み (kun'yomi), the native Japanese reading. On'yomi readings typically appear in compound words (熟語) and are often monosyllabic or bisyllabic. Distinguishing the two is fundamental to Japanese literacy and kanji study.

Examples

1. 漢字には音読みと訓読みの二種類の読み方がある。 Kanji have two types of readings: on'yomi and kun'yomi.
2. この漢字の音読みは分からないが、訓読みなら知っている。 I don't know the on'yomi of this kanji, but I do know its kun'yomi.
3. 熟語の多くは音読みで構成されている。 Many compound words are composed using on'yomi readings.

Usage Guide

Context: language study, kanji education, linguistics

Tone: academic

Origin & History

From 音 (sound, reading) and 読み (reading). Refers to the Chinese-derived phonetic reading of a character, introduced to Japan via Chinese scholarly texts from the 5th century onward.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated