Have you ever come across a kanji character and thought, “Wait… it’s read how many different ways?!”
You’re not alone.
Today we’re diving into one of the quirkiest and most fascinating aspects of the Japanese writing system: kanji with multiple readings.
Let’s start with a simple question:
Which kanji has the most readings?
🥁 Drumroll……
The winner is “生”!
Yes, 生 (meaning “life,” “birth,” or “raw,” among others) takes the crown with over ten commonly used readings—and more if you count rare or obscure usages.
Here are just a few examples:
- 生まれる (umareru) – to be born
- 生きる (ikiru) – to live
- 生 (nama) – raw, fresh (e.g. 生ビール / draft beer!)
- 生える (haeru) – to grow (naturally, like plants)
- 一生 (isshou) – one’s whole life
- 生産 (seisan) – production
- 誕生 (tanjou) – birth
- 生憎 (ainiku) – unfortunately
- 芝生 (shibafu) – lawn
- 生地 (kiji) – fabric, dough
It’s a versatile little kanji, isn’t it?
Why So Many Readings?
As you may already know, kanji came from Chinese a long time ago, but as they became part of the Japanese language, they gained multiple readings: 音読み (on’yomi – readings based on Chinese) and 訓読み (kun’yomi – native Japanese readings).
A character like 生, which represents a fundamental concept (life), naturally found itself in many different contexts—each demanding its own pronunciation.
This can seem daunting, but there’s a silver lining…
How to Master Multi-Reading Kanji
- Learn words, not just readings. Memorising all the readings in isolation isn’t as helpful as learning them in context. Focus on vocabulary items like 生きる or 人生, and you’ll internalise the readings naturally.
- Shadow and read aloud. Encountering 生 in a reading passage? Read it aloud! Use shadowing practice to reinforce the pronunciation in your muscle memory.
- Make your own kanji cards. Include example words and sentences for each reading. Highlight different readings in different colours for visual memory boosts.
- Embrace the chaos—and the creativity! Many learners feel frustrated by irregularities, but this is part of what makes Japanese so rich (I believe!). Each new reading is an opportunity to deepen your fluency and nuance.
Culture Tip
Did you know that 生 is commonly used in product branding to give a fresh, high-quality impression?
Think 生ビール (draft beer) or 生チョコ (Japanese-style chocolate ganache).
When you see 生 on a label, you can bet it’s meant to signal something raw, natural, or unprocessed.
Ready to Tackle 生 and Beyond?
If you’re up for a challenge, try writing a short paragraph using at least five different 生 words.
Not only will this stretch your vocabulary—it’ll help you start recognising patterns and solidifying your understanding.
You’ve got this 🙂
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