How to know what Okurigana signify?


For example, the kanji for "one" has a kun reading of "hito(tsu)." I looked it
up and found that it's the difference between "one" and "one thing," but how
could you have known that without specifically looking it up? I'm looking to
learn whether there is a pattern to the significance of okurigana.

Also, when are the kun readings of numerals used if you count with on
readings?




Verbs and い-adjectives may be inflected with different okurigana

For example, the verb 歩く may be inflected to form:

  * polite: 歩きます

  * negative: 歩かない

  * polite negative: 歩きません

  * past tense: 歩いた

  * past polite: 歩きました

  * negative past: 歩かなかった

  * negative past polite: 歩きませんでした

  * te form: 歩いて

  * desiderative: 歩きたい

  * volitional: 歩こう

  * polite volitional (cohortative): 歩きましょう

  * plain negative volitional: 歩くまい

  * hypothetical: 歩けば

  * potential: 歩ける

  * passive: 歩かれる

  * causative: 歩かせる

  * causative passive: 歩かせられる

  * negative imperative: 歩くな

And there are still many more inflections, these are the few I recall off
hand.

* * *

They serve to disambiguate kanji with multiple readings:

  * 食べる (taberu) and 食う (kuu)

* * *

Worth noting is that for counting, what you see are **not okurigana**. They
are counter words. The change in sound is not inflection at all. It is just
simply a change in sound.

For numbers, it depends what you are counting. Different objects require
different counter words:

  * For 一 : When followed by a counter starting with a は—column syllable, いち becomes いっ and the **counter changes to a 'p' sound**

  * For 三 : When followed by a counter starting with a は—column syllable, that syllable **changes to a 'b' sound**

  * For 六 : When followed by a counter starting with a は—column syllable, ろく becomes ろっ and the **counter changes to a 'p' sound**

  * For 八 : When followed by a counter starting with a は—column syllable, はち becomes はっ and the **counter changes to a 'p' sound**

  * For 十 : When followed by a counter starting with a は—column syllable, じゅう can become either じっ or じゅっ and the **counter changes to a 'p' sound**

* * *

> Also, when are the kun readings of numerals used

This counting system is not complete. There is also the native Japanese
counting system of ひ、ふ、み、よ、いつ、む、なな、や、ここの、とお for one through ten. It does not
extend to eleven and beyond.

Its use is reflected in the use of the counter つ (generic counter for up to 10
things), the sequence is as follows:

ひとつ、ふたつ、みっつ、よっつ、いつつ、むっつ、ななつ、やっつ、ここのつ、とお

Also there is irregular counting for days (日 can be にち or か and is **not
okurigana** ):

いちにち、ふつか、みっか、よっか、いつか、むいか、なのか、ようか、ここのか、とおか




Verbs and い-adjectives may be inflected with different okurigana

For example, the verb 歩く may be inflected to form:

  * polite: 歩きます

  * negative: 歩かない

  * polite negative: 歩きません

  * past tense: 歩いた

  * past polite: 歩きました

  * negative past: 歩かなかった

  * negative past polite: 歩きませんでした

  * te form: 歩いて

  * desiderative: 歩きたい

  * volitional: 歩こう

  * polite volitional (cohortative): 歩きましょう

  * plain negative volitional: 歩くまい

  * hypothetical: 歩けば

  * potential: 歩ける

  * passive: 歩かれる

  * causative: 歩かせる

  * causative passive: 歩かせられる

  * negative imperative: 歩くな

And there are still many more inflections, these are the few I recall off
hand.

* * *

They serve to disambiguate kanji with multiple readings:

  * 食べる (taberu) and 食う (kuu)

* * *

Worth noting is that for counting, what you see are **not okurigana**. They
are counter words. The change in sound is not inflection at all. It is just
simply a change in sound.

For numbers, it depends what you are counting. Different objects require
different counter words:

  * For 一 : When followed by a counter starting with a は—column syllable, いち becomes いっ and the **counter changes to a 'p' sound**

  * For 三 : When followed by a counter starting with a は—column syllable, that syllable **changes to a 'b' sound**

  * For 六 : When followed by a counter starting with a は—column syllable, ろく becomes ろっ and the **counter changes to a 'p' sound**

  * For 八 : When followed by a counter starting with a は—column syllable, はち becomes はっ and the **counter changes to a 'p' sound**

  * For 十 : When followed by a counter starting with a は—column syllable, じゅう can become either じっ or じゅっ and the **counter changes to a 'p' sound**

* * *

> Also, when are the kun readings of numerals used

This counting system is not complete. There is also the native Japanese
counting system of ひ、ふ、み、よ、いつ、む、なな、や、ここの、とお for one through ten. It does not
extend to eleven and beyond.

Its use is reflected in the use of the counter つ (generic counter for up to 10
things), the sequence is as follows:

ひとつ、ふたつ、みっつ、よっつ、いつつ、むっつ、ななつ、やっつ、ここのつ、とお

Also there is irregular counting for days (日 can be にち or か and is **not
okurigana** ):

いちにち、ふつか、みっか、よっか、いつか、むいか、なのか、ようか、ここのか、とおか

