Kanji
Kanji (漢 字, "Chinese characters") is one of the three writing systems used in the Japanese language (the other two being the kana: hiragana and katakana). Unlike the kana, which represent syllables, kanji are pictograms representing concepts. They were imported over a period of centuries from the Chinese language, are typically more complex than kana, and have different meanings and pronounciations depending on how they are combined with other kanji and kana. A kanji will often have its current pronunciation spelled out in ruby characters known as "furigana," small hiragana written above it or to its right.
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Kanji have two categories of meanings and pronunciations, refered to as "readings:" on readings and kun readings. On readings are based loosely on the original Chinese uses of the character, and are typically used when a kanji is part of a compound. Kun readings are typically used when kanji are used on their own, either as complete nouns or as adjective and verb stems. Most kanji have at least one on-reading and one kun-reading each.
There are exceptions to these rules. Many kanji have no kun-reading and a few have no on-reading. Some use kun-readings, not on-readings, to make compounds.