So, this question is a bit different than it might seem from the title. I'm already aware of what音読み and 訓読み are, and the different pronunciations for different Kanji using the different readings.
My question specifically is how necessary it is to actually be able to name whether a reading is an Onyomi or Kunyomi. I currently have my N3 Kanji schedule set to include questions regarding whether a reading is Onyomi or Kunyomi, but I'm frequently messing up on the problems and don't feel I'm retaining much from those specific questions.
So, is it very necessary to distinguish between the two, or is it enough to just have enough memorized for kanji like 洗 being read as あら in 洗う and せん in 洗濯? Because I'm picking up the readings themselves... It's whether they're a Kunyomi or Onyomi in some terms like 絵本 that confuse me more, since both Kanji in that word are read the same when by themselves as well, and I have no trouble reading it correctly, it's just trying to figure out whether it's the Kunyomi or Onyomi.
This is really an overly long way of me asking the question, but I haven't exactly mentioned yet the main reason why I feel it might be necessary to know when it's a Kunyomi and when it's an Onyomi: talking about Japanese in Japanese. How common do native Japanese speakers talk about whether it's a Kunyomi or Onyomi? I have no idea.
Thanks for reading through this really, really long version of a quite simple question. すみません！
I'd personally go ahead and try to memorize and spend your time learning words rather than on'yomi and kun'yomi readings of kanji. Reason is, by learning words, you'll already learn a bunch of readings anyways. A lot of on'yomi readings can be quite rare anyways and by learning a bunch of words you'll end up developing a feeling for which reading sounds more appropriate with the word.
Personally, I'd still go ahead and study kanji using your kanji schedules, as I believe that knowing the main grisp and meaning of a kanji can still be beneficial, but, I feel, and this is my opinion, that on'yomi/kun'yomi type questions can get overwhelming and even demotivate to a certain extent.
Not important at all. It's very easy to naturally learn which is which just by expanding your vocab. This is my personal experience, but I can't remember a single time I've heard a native (not a teacher) use the actual terms 訓読み・音読み when talking about readings, they just say the reading. Not saying it doesn't happen, just that it's very rare.
In a casual setting, if someone messes up a/an would you go "Excuse me sir, you seem to have used the wrong indefinite article"?
It’s about as important and as useful as being able to tell whether an English language root is Latin or Greek in origin. It’s not useless, but it’s hardly likely to be a priority for anyone.
Gonna quote a japanese friend there: 訓読みとか音読みとか、意識したことない
So yeah... I was struggling with one of the onyomi and/or kunyomi question and shared a screenshot to express my suffering... And then that friend said that she is not even conscious about whether a reading onyomi or kunyomi. I followed her example after that .
TBH, as a beginner, lately I've grown less fond of learning the categorization of 音読み and 訓読み on a functional level. So I've just stopped using those types of quizzes and just focus on the meaning and subsequently the sound when it's used in my vocabulary. If I can get away with knowing the message with the kanji itself, I don't need much else. Obviously speech is another issue, but as far as reading/writing is concerned at first, learning the meaning is just more convenient.
This is not to say that it's the best strategy, but I find it does better for working on fluency for me. It's not like I'm gonna be making up words as I go along. I have to learn what's set in stone, not multiple choice answers. Saves me from the confusion. It really isn't generally important to know which one is which on an individual level. Once you know the context, you're usually gonna go by that context and you won't necessarily be far off, if that makes sense to you.
It's totally alright if you do, as long as you can tell. It just feels more like extra knowledge to learn them all, which is more power to you if you get it. 頑張って. Yet there's very little practical purpose in it, other than educationally helping you try to track the possible reading if you end up trying to guess. As long as you have the right kanji/word, the recipient should be able to be on the same page.
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