Japanese Language Stack Exchange
Japanese Language Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [multiple-readings]

81 questions
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3 answers

How do attendance checklists in Japan deal with multiple possible name readings?

Even though there are several recurring, easily guessable family name readings ([田中]{たなか｝、佐藤｛さとう｝、田村｛たむら｝) in Japanese, there are usually many possible readings to people's names Kanji, especially first names (良 could be　あきら,　りょう, まこと etc). How do…
Charles Reis Ribeiro
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What is the origin of 場所?

The kanji compound 場所 is bugging me. For the longest time, I did not know how to pronounce it, oscillating between ばどころ and じょうしょ. The correct pronunciation, however, is ばしょ. This is weird to me, because it is a kun-on compound rather than the more…
Jan
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How does the particle を relate to the verb 行く in the structure「A を + B に行く」?

I came across this sentence in my japanese practicing material (the point is I didn't make up the sentence so I assume it's correct or at least commonly used) 日本についてのアンケートを中国人100人に行った。 and It doesn't make sense to me. What I guess the sentence means…
jarmanso7
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Do we really need to remember the kunyomi and onyomi reading of each kanji?

I am learning how to write kanji using the obenkyo app. I am trying to remember the strokes of each kanji and how to read them (onyomi & kunyomi). But do I really need to remember the onyomi & kunyomi for each of them? I mean there are at least 4-5…
Kakashi
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Apparently unrelated 音読み?

For most 漢字 with multiple 音読み, there appears to be a fairly reasonable link between the sounds, and fairly minor drift, such as with 聞 being モン or ブン. Some 漢字, however, appear to have completely unrelated 読み, the prime example being 回 with カイ and エ.…
Williham Totland
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Can 々 stand for a duplicated kanji with a different reading?

The title may not be so clear, here is what I mean: 々 is used to avoid repeating a kanji. In some cases, the two may not be pronounced the same because the first consonant of the second kanji is voiced (e.g. [時]{とき}[々]{どき}), but they still have the…
Mathieu Bouville
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How to read 死神界?

In this manga I'm reading, the word 死神界 appears. I would have read it has しにがみかい but there was furigana indicating the reading to be ここ. If there was no furigana, how could I know the correct way to read it?
Jak
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Kanji that don't use their specified readings

Hello I'm trying to understand something about kanji readings. As far as I understand each Kanji character has multiple readings and each of these readings can be used alone or in conjunction with different kanji. My question is, how is it that…
David Limkys
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Is 年月 (months and years) read 【としつき】or【ねんげつ】and is there a difference?

Is 年月 (months and years) read 【としつき】or【ねんげつ】? Is there a difference? I found it in the following sentence in WWWJDIC: 年月が過ぎるのは早い。
Ned Reif
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How should I read 早々？　As そうそう or はやばや？

How do you read 早々　in these sentences? I learned there are two readings: そうそう、and はやばや。 How do they differ, if at all? 早々にごへんじいただきありがとうございます。 Thank you for your prompt reply. 新年早々、借金を催促されるなんてひどすぎる。 It’s too cruel to demand money right after the …
knowledge_is_power
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What was the process by which 有職読み applied to personal names?

In premodern Japanese, it was traditional for a prestigious or extremely honorable man whose name was read with kun'yomi to have the reading of his personal name changed to on'yomi in certain situations, a process called 有職読み【ゆうそくよみ】. (Women…
Avery
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人 - on'yomi ニン or ジン rule of thumb

I sometimes have trouble figuring out what on'yomi 人 has in unfamiliar jukugo, and was wondering whether there was any kind of rule-of-thumb for figuring it out, assuming it is the only character whose reading is unknown in a compound. Aside from…
archaephyrryx
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Mainen or Maitoshi used for every year?

I see Mainen and Maitoshi used for every year? Is there any difference and why would one be used over another?
Alan
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Why are there multiple katakana readings for a single kanji?

When I look at a kanji word I see one, or multiple Hiragana pronunciations (or should I call it translation?) - sometimes the pronunciations are for different kanjis, but that's not the question. I've been reading this article on tofugu, but there…
Danielson
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Help with monomorphic, polyphonic verbs

OK, I kind of invented that term. But I'm referring to verbs that have identical kanji and okurigana; have nearly identical meanings; but have different readings. I'm sure there are many others out there, but some that immediately come to mind…
istrasci
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