Kanji Readings: On'yomi, Kun'yomi, Jūbako-yomi (N4-N3) [JLPT N4]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
「山（さん/やま）」「水（すい/みず）」「人気（にんき）vs 人気（ひとけ）」 — the rules and pitfalls of kanji readings.
Kanji Readings: On'yomi, Kun'yomi, Jūbako-yomi
Japanese kanji have two main reading systems: on'yomi (音読み) = based on the Chinese pronunciation (the readings brought when kanji entered Japan: 山[さん], 水[すい], 人[じん/にん]), mostly for Sino-Japanese compounds (図書館[としょかん], 学生[がくせい]); kun'yomi (訓読み) = the native Japanese reading (a native word matched to a kanji: 山[やま], 水[みず], 人[ひと]), mostly for standalone characters, native words. E.g. 「山」 on'yomi さん (富士山), kun'yomi やま (山に登る). ⚠️ Mixed readings: jūbako-yomi (on+kun: 本棚[ほんだな]), yutō-yomi (kun+on). ⚠️ The same kanji often has multiple readings, judged by the word (人気: にんき = popularity vs ひとけ = sign of people).
🧠 Core nuance: same kanji, on'yomi mimics Chinese / kun'yomi is native Japanese
The core is kanji have two reading systems, on'yomi (mimicking Chinese) and kun'yomi (native Japanese): ① on'yomi (音読み) — derived from mimicking the Chinese pronunciation of the time when kanji entered Japan (山さん, 水すい, 人じん/にん, 生せい/しょう), usually for Sino-Japanese compounds, idioms (図書館[としょかん], 学生[がくせい], 勉強[べんきょう]), sounding ‘harder'; ② kun'yomi (訓読み) — a native Japanese word matched to a kanji (山やま, 水みず, 人ひと, 生いきる), usually for standalone kanji, native words, kun-reading compounds (山に登る, 水を飲む). ⚠️ General rule: standalone kanji/native words → kun'yomi; Sino-Japanese compounds/idioms → on'yomi. ⚠️ Mixed readings: jūbako-yomi = on'yomi ＋ kun'yomi (重箱[じゅうばこ], 本棚[ほんだな = ほん on ＋ たな kun]); yutō-yomi = kun'yomi ＋ on'yomi (湯桶[ゆとう], 場所[ばしょ]). ⚠️ The same kanji often has multiple on/kun readings, and the same spelling with a different reading has a different meaning (人気: にんき = popular vs ひとけ = sign of people; 辛い: からい = spicy vs つらい = painful) — judged by the word, by context. A systematic rundown of N4-N3 kanji readings.
📌 Reading System Comparison
| Reading | Origin | Example (山) | Mostly for |
|---|---|---|---|
| on'yomi (音読み) | mimics Chinese | さん(富士山) | Sino-Japanese compounds |
| kun'yomi (訓読み) | native Japanese | やま(山に登る) | standalone/native words |
| jūbako-yomi | on ＋ kun | — | 本棚(ほんだな) |
| yutō-yomi | kun ＋ on | — | 場所(ばしょ) |
💬 Example Sentences
- 「山」: 富士山(さん, on'yomi)/山に登る(やま, kun'yomi). — same kanji, two readings
- 「図書館」は音読み＋音読み(としょかん)の漢語複合詞。(‘Library' is an on'yomi+on'yomi Sino-Japanese compound.) — on'yomi compound
- 「本棚」(ほんだな)は重箱読み(本=on, 棚=kun)。(‘Bookshelf' is jūbako-yomi: 本 on'yomi, 棚 kun'yomi.) — mixed reading
- 「人気」: にんき(popularity)/ひとけ(sign of people). — same spelling, different reading
- 「水」: 水道(すい, on'yomi)/水を飲む(みず, kun'yomi). — same kanji, two readings
🔄 Compare: on'yomi vs kun'yomi vs jūbako-yomi vs yutō-yomi
| Reading | Feature | Example |
|---|---|---|
| on'yomi | mimics Chinese, mostly Sino-Japanese compounds | 学生(がくせい) |
| kun'yomi | native Japanese, mostly standalone/native words | 山(やま) |
| jūbako-yomi | on ＋ kun (mixed) | 本棚(ほんだな) |
| yutō-yomi | kun ＋ on (mixed) | 場所(ばしょ) |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- on'yomi vs kun'yomi: on'yomi mimics Chinese (compounds: 学生がくせい); kun'yomi is native Japanese (standalone: 山やま) — don't confuse!
- Same kanji, multiple readings: the same kanji often has multiple readings, judged by the word (山: さん/やま).
- Same spelling, different reading: 人気(にんき = popularity/ひとけ = sign of people), 辛い(からい = spicy/つらい = painful), by context.
- Mixed readings: jūbako-yomi (on ＋ kun: 本棚), yutō-yomi (kun ＋ on: 場所).
💡 Nuance & When to Use
Japanese kanji have two main readings: on'yomi (mimicking Chinese, mostly Sino-Japanese compounds: 図書館・学生), kun'yomi (native Japanese, mostly standalone/native words: 山やま・水みず). General rule: Sino-Japanese compounds use on'yomi, standalone/native words use kun'yomi. Mixed readings: jūbako-yomi (on ＋ kun: 本棚), yutō-yomi (kun ＋ on: 場所). ⚠️ The same kanji often has multiple readings, the same spelling with a different reading having a different meaning (人気にんき/ひとけ), by context. A systematic N4-N3 must.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- N4-N3 core: on'yomi (mimics Chinese, Sino-Japanese compounds: 学生がくせい), kun'yomi (native Japanese, standalone/native words: 山やま).
- Rule: Sino-Japanese compounds use on'yomi, standalone/native words use kun'yomi; mixed readings jūbako-yomi (on ＋ kun), yutō-yomi (kun ＋ on).
- Note: same kanji multiple readings (山さん/やま); same spelling different reading different meaning (人気にんき/ひとけ), by context.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. What is the kun'yomi of 「山」?
(A) さん (B) やま (C) ざん (D) せん
Q2. What kind of reading is 「図書館」?
(A) kun ＋ kun
(B) on ＋ on (a Sino compound)
(C) on ＋ kun (jūbako reading)
(D) kun ＋ on (yutō reading)
Q3. What's the difference between 「人気 (にんき)」 and 「人気 (ひとけ)」?
(A) exactly the same
(B) にんき: popularity; ひとけ: signs of a person's presence
(C) にんき: presence; ひとけ: popularity
(D) both are kun'yomi
Q4. Where does on'yomi come from?
(A) Japan's original native readings
(B) imitating Chinese pronunciation (brought when kanji entered Japan)
(C) borrowed from English
(D) borrowed from Korean
Q5. What kind of reading is 「本棚 (ほんだな)」?
(A) on ＋ on
(B) kun ＋ kun
(C) on (ほん) ＋ kun (たな) = jūbako reading
(D) kun (ほん) ＋ on (たな) = yutō reading
Answer Key
1. (B) やま ── the kun'yomi of 山 is やま (Japan's native reading). The on'yomi is さん (e.g. 富士山, 登山).
2. (B) on ＋ on ── 図書館 (としょかん) is an on ＋ on Sino compound.
3. (B) ── にんき = popularity; ひとけ = signs of a person being around.
4. (B) ── on'yomi imitates Chinese pronunciation, brought when kanji entered Japan.
5. (C) ── 本棚 (ほんだな) = on (ほん) ＋ kun (たな) = a jūbako reading.