sci.lang.japan FAQ / 1. Writing / 1.2. Kanji (漢字)

1.2.9. Can a kanji word have more than one reading?

In the same way that some English words like "read" or "bow" can have more than one meaning, some kanji words also have more than one reading and more than one meaning as well, depending on the context. For example, 大人気 can be read either otonage (おとなげ), meaning "adultness", or daininki (だいにき), "very popular". The kanji 実 can be read either mi (み), meaning "fruit", or jitsu (じつ), meaning "truth". 本館 can be read as honkan (ほんかん), "main building", but it is also a surname, pronounced Motodate (もとだて).

In the same way that English speakers can distinguish between the bow in "bow-tie" and "a deep bow", Japanese people distinguish these readings from the context.

Here is a table of some common examples:

Kanji	Readings	Meanings
大人気	otonage	Adultness
大人気	daininki	Very popular
市場	ichiba	A market selling groceries
市場	shijō	A financial market
実	mi	Fruit
実	jitsu	Truth
一文字	ichimonji	A shape like a kanji one.
一文字	ichimoji, hitomoji	One character
一寸	issun	A unit (see 12.7. What are the old Japanese units like shaku?)
一寸	chotto	A little
大字	ooaza	Used in addresses (see 15.1. How does the Japanese addressing system work?)
大字	daiji	A large character

Some people's names and place names may also be words with different pronunciations, for example

Kanji Word reading Word meaning Name reading Name meaning

本館 honkan main building Motodate surname

根本 konpon basis Nemoto surname

三重 sanjū three-layered Mie A prefecture

See also 9.3. How do Japanese names work?

Web links

A list of words with more than one reading (in Japanese)

sci.lang.japan FAQ / 1. Writing / 1.2. Kanji (漢字)

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