✳flâneur — a map of the web's best reading

Onyomi vs. Kunyomi: What's the Difference?

tofugu.com · 3,954 words · saved by 1 readers

Finally understand the most difficult part of kanji with our comprehensive guide.

You just started learning Japanese . You're cruising through your beginner kanji list nice and easy. 木. Hey, a tree! 山. Hey, a mountain! Heck yeah, this is easy! The characters even sort of look like trees and mountains. But then you look at the pronunciations… wait. Why are there two ways to read 木? Is it もく or is it き? Do I read 山 as さん or やま? Which one should I use? Why can this one be read ten possible ways? Who did this and where are they hiding?! However, it's too late. You're here, and there's no way home. Welcome… to Kanji Park. The readings (on'yomi and kun'yomi) of kanji are very com

Explore this link on the map →

related reading