Kanji Basics
What is Kanji?
Kanji are Chinese characters adopted into the Japanese writing system. Each character represents a meaning (and sometimes a sound). Japanese uses around 2,136 kanji in daily life (the Joyo kanji), but most kanji have multiple readings depending on context.
This is the most confusing part for learners: the same character can be pronounced completely differently depending on whether it appears alone or in a compound word.
On'yomi vs Kun'yomi
Every kanji can have two types of readings:
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese reading
The reading derived from the original Chinese pronunciation when the character was imported to Japan. Written in katakana in dictionaries.
When to use: Mostly in compound words (two or more kanji together). For example:
電 = デン (on'yomi) + 話 = ワ (on'yomi)
学 = ガク (on'yomi) + 生 = セイ (on'yomi)
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Japanese reading
The native Japanese word that was matched to the kanji's meaning. Written in hiragana in dictionaries.
When to use: Usually when a kanji appears alone or with hiragana attached (okurigana). For example:
話 = はな (kun'yomi) + す (okurigana)
水 = みず (kun'yomi, standalone)
Quick Rules of Thumb
Two kanji together?Usually on'yomi.
山川 → サンセン (mountain river)
Kanji + hiragana?Usually kun'yomi.
食べる → たべる (to eat)
Kanji alone?Usually kun'yomi.
山 → やま (mountain)
Exceptions are everywhere.Some words break these rules. The best approach is to learn readings through vocabulary, not in isolation — which is exactly what this app does.
Example: 生
The kanji 生 (life/birth) is a good example of how one character can have many readings:
This is why learning kanji through vocabulary is more practical than memorizing readings in isolation.