音読み（おんよみ、onyomi）
- Chinese reading

The word 音読み 音読み （おんよみ） refers to the "Sino-Japanese reading" of a Chinese character (kanji). It's the pronunciation of a kanji derived from its original pronunciation in Chinese, brought to Japan along with the characters themselves. It's one of the two main ways to read kanji in Japanese, the other being 訓読み 訓読み (kun'yomi). Think of it as the kanji's "foreign" reading. ⚫︎ It is often used in compound words (words made up of two or more kanji). ⚫︎ The pronunciation usually retains elements of the original Chinese sound, although it has adapted to Japanese phonology over time.

⚫︎ 学校 学校 (がっこう) Translation: School ⚫︎ 先生 (せんせい) Translation: Teacher ⚫︎ 電話 (でんわ) Translation: Telephone

You'll encounter 音読み 音読み frequently when reading and writing Japanese, especially when dealing with compound words or technical terms. It is essential for understanding the meaning of many Japanese words. When learning kanji, memorizing both the 音読み 音読み and 訓読み 訓読み readings is crucial.

⚫︎ 音読み 音読み is written in kanji, with the reading written in hiragana: 音読み （おんよみ). ⚫︎ There are no variations in the okurigana for this word.

There are no direct synonyms for the word 音読み 音読み itself, as it refers to a specific type of reading. However, it can be contrasted with 訓読み 訓読み.

The antonym of 音読み 音読み is 訓読み 訓読み (kun'yomi), which refers to the native Japanese reading of a kanji.

この漢字の音読みは「オン」です。 ・Translation: The Sino-Japanese reading of this kanji is "on." ・Explanation: This sentence directly uses 音読み 音読み to ask about the Sino-Japanese pronunciation of a kanji.

音読みで読む単語をいくつか教えてください。 ・Translation: Please tell me some words that are read with Sino-Japanese readings. ・Explanation: This sentence is asking for examples of words that use 音読み 音読み.

The word 音読み 音読み is a compound word. 音 means "sound" or "pronunciation," and 読み 読み means "reading." Therefore, 音読み 音読み literally translates to "sound reading," or more accurately, the "sound-based reading." It refers to the reading of a kanji derived from its pronunciation in Chinese.