Kanji
Kanji (漢字) are characters that represent meanings or concepts, unlike Hiragana and Katakana, which represent sounds. A kanji's pronunciation changes with the word and context. This guide explains the reading patterns that help make those changes predictable.
Most Kanji characters have at least two types of readings: On-yomi (Sino-Japanese reading, based on original Chinese sounds) and Kun-yomi (Native Japanese reading). As a general rule, On-yomi is used when Kanji are combined to form compound words, while Kun-yomi is used when a Kanji stands alone or is used in verbs and adjectives.
A single Kanji can be pronounced in different ways depending on its role in a sentence or the words it's paired with. Mastering these variations is key to reading Japanese fluidly.
Japanese has many words that sound exactly the same but are written with different Kanji. Choosing the correct Kanji is essential for conveying the right meaning.