くんよみ (Kunyomi) and おんよみ (Onyomi)

Another wrinkle I've been facing lately is the complexity added by くんよみ (kunyomi) and おんよみ (onyomi), i.e. the multiple readings for kanji characters. Kunyomi is the Japanese pronunciation and is largely used when kanji characters are alone. Onyomi comes from the original Chinese pronunciation and is largely used when kanji are combined. Of course, many kanji have even multiple onyomi and kunyomi pronunciations!

.

For example...

Alone using kunyomi:

新 (new) あたらしい (atarashii)

車 (car) くるま (kuruma)

.

Together using onyomi:

新車 (new car) しん しゃ (shin sha)

.

Alone using kunyomi:
火 (fire) ひ (hi)
山 (mountain) やま (yama)

.
Together using onyomi:
火山 (fire mountain = volcano) かざん(kazan)