vtombilla wrote:Hello all,
This is my first post, so sorry if I'm not posting it in the right place...
I've been studying Japanese for a couple of months but I haven't learnt any Kanji yet, just hiragana/katakana.
I was trying to memorize some kanji now, using the Kanji List but I have no idea about how to read them! And... what are kunyomi and onyomi? If anybody could give me any hint about this I'd be more than grateful!!!
Arigatou gozaimasu!
Vane
On'yomi = readings based on the original Chinese pronunciation (in theory)
Kun'yomi = Japanese pronunciation (often words that existed prior to the import of kanji, but to which kanji was applied because the meanings were the same)
Generally, kun'yomi are used in standalone words, on'yomi are used in compounds, and the two are never used together, but there are numerous exceptions to all of these "rules".
Try a search of the forum. This has been explained a few times elsewhere.
