音訓(おんくん)

音訓(おんくん) is a compound of 音(おん) (sound; on'yomi) + 訓(くん) (reading; kun'yomi). It is an essential term for anyone studying Japanese writing.

音読(おんよ)み (on'yomi) is the reading derived from the original Chinese pronunciation, typically used in compound words (熟語(じゅくご)). 訓読(くんよ)み (kun'yomi) is the native Japanese reading, often used when the kanji stands alone or with okurigana.

Example

The kanji 山(やま) has the on'yomi サン (as in 山脈(さんみゃく), mountain range) and the kun'yomi やま (as in 山(やま), mountain).

Common collocations

• 音訓(おんくん)を調(しら)べる: look up the on and kun readings
• 音訓(おんくん)索引(さくいん): on/kun reading index
• 音訓(おんくん)表(ひょう): table of on and kun readings

Similar words

• 音読(おんよ)み: on'yomi — the Chinese-derived reading alone
• 訓読(くんよ)み: kun'yomi — the native Japanese reading alone
• 読(よ)み方(かた): way of reading — a more general term for how to read something