how do you know how to read a certain Kanji?

[jpd1]

hello everyone,

my question is:

how does one knows the proper pronunciation of a given Kanji when it shows in a Kanji compound?

i figure that if the Kanji is by itself and then Hiragana after it, then it should be read with it's proper Kunyoumi pronunciation. (also sometimes there are 2 different ways with the same Hiragana ending)

but the real problem is with compounds, how does one know what to read of each Kanji in a compound? (with their Onyoumi pronunciation)
(of course one way is trial and error, experience, but it doesn't sound so good a method)

by the way, im new here, so i hope this is the right place to post.

thank you very much!

[Belton]

You don't know unless you have learnt the word.

Therein lies the huge paradox of reading Japanese. The spoken language comes first and the written language is often an aide memoire to the spoken language. Kanji mainly carry meaning or ideas rather than sounds.

That's not to say you can't make educated guesses about unknown kanji's onyomi based on the phonetic component (if you can identify it correctly) or based on known kanji it is beside and the word itself. For kunyomi the context of a sentence and okurigana usually gives it to you.

But in short as a learner you will probably have to look up most words on their first encounter to be sure of the reading. Japanese have an easier time as they already know the words and learn the kanji to write them at school.

--edit--
Another way you know a reading is through furigana where the reading is printed in smaller characters over the kanji. Often seen in children's books but also in other books for unfamiliar kanji or where an author uses an unfamiliar reading. I've also seen English with furigana.

[jpd1]

i see, that's what i first thought.

thank you very much.