Kanji... When to read Kun, when to read On...

[Emoni]

This is a fairly major question, which I am truly hoping has a very simple answer! (probably not but I can hope right?)

Right now I've started studying Kanji in my Japanese language study much more than before. I've probably got about 70 or so Kanji down, which I know is nothing, and I'm trying to understand the meanings behind the radicals to remember them better.

However, On and Kun reading of words is totally throwing me off. I'm still unable to tell if I should be reading it "this way" or "that way" and what rules there are to knowing how Kanji should be read for a word. If anyone knows of a site? Or there is a simple rule to follow, it would be extremely appreciated!

[PaulTB]

However, On and Kun reading of words is totally throwing me off. I'm still unable to tell if I should be reading it "this way" or "that way" and what rules there are to knowing how Kanji should be read for a word. If anyone knows of a site?
It's known as a dictionary.
Or there is a simple rule to follow, it would be extremely appreciated!
Non-suru verbs and i-adjectives are read with Kun readings, except when they aren't.
Words with multiple kanji (not separated by kana) are read with On readings, except when they aren't.

[fixelbrumpf]

I think it's best to start with two rules of thumb: "ru" verbs and i-adjectives are usually read kun and kanji compounds of any kind are usually read on.

Of course there are lots of exceptions to the rule, such as words like "oosouji" (spring cleaning) where the "oo" is kun reading and the "souji" is on reading, and of course names, which totally defy the aforementioned rules of thumb.

[Emoni]

It's known as a dictionary.

Non-suru verbs and i-adjectives are read with Kun readings, except when they aren't.
Words with multiple kanji (not separated by kana) are read with On readings, except when they aren't.


Ooooh, so thats what the book I use to look up Kanji in is called. I knew it started wth a D sound... :p

I guess, there is SOME consistency to the reading, although I'm wondering how common the exceptions are (knowing my luck, probably extremely common). "Except when they aren't." is... vague :)

[PaulTB]

although I'm wondering how common the exceptions are (knowing my luck, probably extremely common). "Except when they aren't." is... vague :)

Using some technical wizardry I picked out 20 verbs at random from EDICT

作り出す KUN
暴れ狂う KUN
勿体ぶる ON (but note that ふる is actually the verb and that could be written as 振る which is KUN)
割れ返る KUN
知らせる KUN
潜り抜ける KUN
物言う KUN
買い戻す KUN
染み込む KUN
聞き届ける KUN
弱り衰える KUN
浮れ歩く KUN
分かる KUN
会う KUN
息を弾ませる KUN
受け入れる KUN
寄越す Irregular + KUN (The 'よ reading for 寄 is probably an irregular shortening of よる.)
治る KUN
食い合う KUN
後へ退く KUN (Although it's actually more of a set phrase than a single verb)

So, pretty good for verbs. (I expect i-adjectives are about the same)

Non-verbs, non-i-adjectives are a little more fiddly. I shall leave as an exercise for the student to work out how many of these are ON only and how many contain KUN readings.

依頼人 いらいにん
貨幣同盟 かへいどうめい
引違い戸 ひきちがいど
回転 かいてん
共和国 きょうわこく
危急 ききゅう
凝然として ぎょうぜんとして
薫育 くんいく
計算機 けいさんき
誤写 ごしゃ
焼身 しょうしん
芝生 しばふ
女王陛下 じょおうへいか
浄化装置 じょうかそうち
睡眠 すいみん
摂動論 せつどうろん
中途半端 ちゅうとはんぱ
長打 ちょうだ
内乱 ないらん
販売 はんばい