The following is from the About.com: Japanese Language site. This site is a great resource for newbies studying Japanese. The concepts are explained in a way that is very easy to understand.
To understand the concept of kanji, it is important to keep in mind this rule: Kanji express meaning, NOT sounds. Kanji take the form of outlines; the meaning is understood from its form. To illustrate, here are some kanji characters:
'temple'
じ (on reading)
てら (kun reading)
'village'
そん (on reading)
むら (kun reading)
'cherry blossom'
おう (on reading)
さから (kun reading)
'to learn'
がく (on reading)
まな (kun reading)
Source
About.com
Based on the first three numbers in my last post, the on and kun reading gets kinda confusing at times. I'm not sure when I'm supposed to use one or the other. I hope things get clearer in the future. Anyway, here are the rest of the numbers.
Number 4
四 (kanji)
し (on reading)
よっ(つ) (kun reading)
Useful compounds:
四角 (しかく) shikaku - square
四月 (しがつ) shigatsu - April
四季 (しき) shiki - four seasons
四時 (よじ) yoji - four o'clock
Number 5
五 (kanji)
ご (on reading)
いつ(つ) (kun reading)
Useful compounds:
五十 (ごじゅう) gojuu - 50
五階 (ごかい) gokai - fifth floor
五月 (ごがつ) gogatsu -May
五日 (いつか) itsuka - 5 days, 5th day of the month
Number 6
六 (kanji)
ろく (on reading)
むっ(つ), むい (kun reading)
Useful compounds:
六時 (ろくじ) rokuji - six o'clock
六月 (ろくがつ) rokugatsu - June
六日 (むいか) muika - 6 days, 6th day of the month
Number 7
七 (kanji)
しち (on reading)
なな (kun reading)
Useful compounds:
七月 (しちがつ) shichigatsu - July
十七日 (じゅうしちにち) juushichinichi - 17 days, 17th day of the month
七百 (ななひゃく) nanahyaku - 700
Number 8
八 (kanji)
はち (on reading)
やっ (つ), よう (un reading)
Useful compounds:
八十 (はちじゅう) hachijuu - 80
八日 (ようか) youka - 8 days, 8th day of the month
Number 9
九 (kanji)
きゅう, く (on reading)
ここの(つ) (kun reading)
Useful compounds:
九十 (きゅうじゅう) kyuujuu - 90
九回 (きゅうかい) kyuukai - nine times
九月 (くがつ) kugatsu - September
九日 (ここのか) kokonoka - 9 days, 9th day of the month
Number 10
十 (kanji)
じゅう (on reading)
とお (kun reading)
Useful compounds:
十時 (じゅうじ) juuji - ten o'clock
十日 (とおか) tooka - 10 days, 10th day of the month
Source
About.com
Let's start with the most basic kanji characters: numbers.
Number 1
一 (kanji)
いち (on reading)
ひと(つ) (kun reading)
Useful compounds:
一月 (いちがつ) ichigatsu - January
一度 (いちど) ichido - one time
一人 (ひとり) hitori - one person
Number 2
二 (kanji)
に (on reading)
ふた(つ) (kun reading)
Useful compounds:
ニ十 (にじゅう) nijuu - 20
ニ月 (にがつ) nigatsu - February
ニ人 (ふたり) futari - two people
Number 3
三 (kanji)
さん (on reading)
みっ(つ) (kun reading)
Useful compounds:
三角 (さんかく) sankaku - triangle
三脚 (さんきゃく) sankyaku - tripod
三日 (みっか) mikka - 3 days; 3rd of the month
So far, so good. The first three numbers are a piece of cake. Who can forget 一, ニ and 三? Anyway, I'll continue with the rest of the numbers (until 10) tomorrow. じゃあまたね
Source
About.com
