音読(おんよ)み

おんよみ
noun
on'yomi, Chinese reading of kanji
language
See also: 訓読(くんよ)み (Japanese reading)
1. on'yomi, Chinese reading of kanji
The reading of a kanji character derived from the original Chinese pronunciation. Contrasts with kun'yomi (native Japanese reading).
「山(やま)」の音読(おんよ)みは「サン」だ。
The on'yomi of "山" is "san."
熟語(じゅくご)は音読(おんよ)みで読(よ)むことが多(おお)い。
Compound words are often read with on'yomi.
ひとつの漢字(かんじ)に複数(ふくすう)の音読(おんよ)みがあることもある。
A single kanji can have multiple on'yomi readings.

音読(おんよ)み literally means "sound reading," referring to readings based on Chinese pronunciation.

Related words

Usage

On'yomi are typically used in multi-kanji compound words (熟語(じゅくご)), while kun'yomi are used when kanji appear alone or with okurigana. There are exceptions both ways: some single-kanji words are on'yomi (本(ほん), 肉(にく), 駅(えき)), and some compounds are read by kun'yomi (手紙(てがみ), 見本(みほん) mixes kun and on).

Related Words

Related: 熟語(じゅくご) (compound word)
Compare: 訓読(くんどく) (kun reading)
Compare: 字音(じおん) (Sino-Japanese (on) reading of a kanji)
Compare: 熟字訓(じゅくじくん) (special kanji compound reading)
Compare: 音訓(おんくん) (on'yomi and kun'yomi)
general
Added 2026.2.7 20:20 · Revised 2026.10.10 3:52
10000/10453_onyomi