Mastering Kun-yomi: The Native Japanese Readings of Kanji

Kun-yomi readings are used for native Japanese concepts. You will usually see them in two specific situations. First, when a kanji stands all by itself. Second, when a kanji is followed by hiragana. This trailing hiragana is called okurigana. It helps you conjugate verbs and adjectives. For example, in 食べる (taberu), the 食 is the kanji. The べる is the okurigana. Together, they tell you exactly how to read it. Without the okurigana, you might get lost in a sea of possible sounds. It's like a GPS for your mouth. Most kanji have at least one Kun-yomi. Some have many, and some have none at all. It is a bit like a puzzle with shifting pieces.

1. 1Identifying Kun-yomi follows a fairly reliable logic. Follow these steps to spot them in the wild:
2. 2Look for okurigana. If you see hiragana attached to a kanji, it is almost certainly Kun-yomi.
3. 3Check if the kanji is alone. A single kanji noun like 水 (mizu) usually uses Kun-yomi.
4. 4Identify the word type. Verbs and adjectives are nearly always Kun-yomi.
5. 5Listen for the length. Kun-yomi words are often multi-syllable, like あたら・しい (atarashii).
6. 6Watch for family names. Most Japanese surnames like 田中 (Tanaka) use Kun-yomi.

You should use Kun-yomi when you are describing basic actions. Use it when you are talking about nature or emotions. If you are ordering food and say 飲み物 (nomimono), you are using Kun-yomi. When you are asking for directions to the 山 (yama), you are using Kun-yomi. It is the default for informal conversation. In a job interview, you will use it for your self-introduction. "My name is..." or "I like to..." both rely heavily on these native readings. It feels grounded and relatable. It is the "bread and butter" of your vocabulary. Without it, you would sound like a walking dictionary or a robot.

Avoid Kun-yomi when you see two or more kanji smashed together. These are called jukugo or compound words. In 学生 (gakusei), both kanji use On-yomi. If you try to use Kun-yomi there, people will look at you very strangely. It would be like saying "learn-person" instead of "student." Also, avoid it in highly technical or academic settings. Scientific terms almost exclusively use On-yomi. Legal documents are also On-yomi heavy. If the word feels "fancy" or "imported," Kun-yomi is probably the wrong choice. Think of it like a dress code. You don't wear a tuxedo to the beach. You don't use Kun-yomi for complex chemistry terms.

The biggest mistake is ignoring the okurigana. If you see 新しい, don't just say shin. That is the On-yomi. You must say atarashii. Another mistake is mixing up readings in compounds. Some beginners try to read 水曜日 (suiyoubi) as mizuyoubi. While 水 is mizu alone, it changes in this specific group. Yes, Japanese is testing your patience here. Don't feel bad if you trip up. Even Japanese kids spend years perfecting this. Just remember: alone is usually Kun-yomi, together is usually On-yomi. It is a general rule, not a law of physics. There will be rebels that break the rules.

How does Kun-yomi differ from On-yomi? On-yomi is the "Chinese-derived" reading. It usually sounds shorter, like shin, gaku, or sui. On-yomi is used for big, abstract ideas. Kun-yomi is for the physical world. Compare 空 (sora - sky) to 空気 (kuuki - air). Sora is the blue thing you look at (Kun-yomi). Kuuki is the invisible gas you breathe (On-yomi). One is what you see, the other is what you study. Think of Kun-yomi as the "flavor" and On-yomi as the "nutrition label." Both are important, but you enjoy the flavor more.