kun

K5U1N1

noun

In the Japanese language, the pronunciation, or reading, of a kanji character as a native Japanese word that means what the character represents, contrasted with on.

“Most kanji have two kinds of reading, called "on" and "kun".”

OriginJapanese 訓読み →
Less commonScrabble 7
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Meanings

kun1

nounkun (uncountable)
  1. uncountableIn the Japanese language, the pronunciation, or reading, of a kanji character as a native Japanese word that means what the character represents, contrasted with on.

    Most kanji have two kinds of reading, called "on" and "kun".

Kun2

proper noun
  1. human sciencesA Finnish Moon god.

Origin

  1. Japanese訓読み
  2. Englishkun

From Japanese 訓読み (kun'yomi), literally "meaning reading" (i.e. pronunciation based on meaning).

More words from Japanese

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

unknuk
Cite this entry
APA

kun. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kun

MLA

“kun.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kun. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kun,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kun.

Source: kun on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.