Abbreviating sets of compounds with leading characters in common


I [recently asked a question about on- and kun-
yomi](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/36129/similar-%E9%9F%B3-%E8%A8%93%E8%AA%AD%E3%81%BF-
coincidence-or-something-more) and in building the title guessed at how the
two compounds involved could be contracted; landing on 「音・訓読み」.

Is this indeed the correct way of abbreviating something like 「音読み・訓読み」, and
if so, when can it be used?

If not; what construction should be used?




In general, there is no restriction in making this kind of ad hoc portmanteau
compounds, as long as all original words have parallel structure. That said,
it's more natural if the non-common parts are contrastive in meaning.

> [上下水道](http://www.city.kawasaki.jp/800/cmsfiles/contents/0000035/35839/)
> "water(works) and sewerage" < 上水道 + 下水道  
>
> [開閉会式](http://news.livedoor.com/%E3%83%AA%E3%82%AA%E4%BA%94%E8%BC%AA%E3%81%AE%E9%96%8B%E9%96%89%E4%BC%9A%E5%BC%8F/topics/keyword/37149/)
> "opening and closing ceremony" < 開会式 + 閉会式  
>  [視触覚](http://www.moguravr.com/unlimited-corridor-movie/) "visuo-haptic" <
> 視覚 + 触覚

It doesn't need to be exactly two components:

>
> [都道府県庁所在地](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%83%BD%E9%81%93%E5%BA%9C%E7%9C%8C%E5%BA%81%E6%89%80%E5%9C%A8%E5%9C%B0)
> "seat of the office of
> [都/道/府/県](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefectures_of_Japan)" (i.e.
> capitol)

or being the first character:

> [輸出入](http://law.e-gov.go.jp/htmldata/S27/S27HO299.html) "import and export"
> < 輸出 + 輸入

But an interpunct (・) is required when the result spelling causes confusion
(colliding with existing words):

> [北{きた}・東{ひがし}アジア](http://researchmap.jp/jor5kvumk-45644/) "North and East
> Asia" cf. 北東{ほくとう} "northeast"  
>  [環状1・2号線](http://www.ur-
> net.go.jp/east/order/kouzi/pdf/ur2008e_ord0324_01.pdf) "the ring road 1/2"

In your case, however, the word 音訓読み is already reserved for "a type of
2-kanji word where the former is read in 音読み and the latter in 訓読み", so you
should avoid this wording (but should be understood with aid of the context).
Fortunately, as mentioned in a comment, what you mean can be conveyed by
another word [音訓](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/34326/meaning/m0u/).




In general, there is no restriction in making this kind of ad hoc portmanteau
compounds, as long as all original words have parallel structure. That said,
it's more natural if the non-common parts are contrastive in meaning.

> [上下水道](http://www.city.kawasaki.jp/800/cmsfiles/contents/0000035/35839/)
> "water(works) and sewerage" < 上水道 + 下水道  
>
> [開閉会式](http://news.livedoor.com/%E3%83%AA%E3%82%AA%E4%BA%94%E8%BC%AA%E3%81%AE%E9%96%8B%E9%96%89%E4%BC%9A%E5%BC%8F/topics/keyword/37149/)
> "opening and closing ceremony" < 開会式 + 閉会式  
>  [視触覚](http://www.moguravr.com/unlimited-corridor-movie/) "visuo-haptic" <
> 視覚 + 触覚

It doesn't need to be exactly two components:

>
> [都道府県庁所在地](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%83%BD%E9%81%93%E5%BA%9C%E7%9C%8C%E5%BA%81%E6%89%80%E5%9C%A8%E5%9C%B0)
> "seat of the office of
> [都/道/府/県](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefectures_of_Japan)" (i.e.
> capitol)

or being the first character:

> [輸出入](http://law.e-gov.go.jp/htmldata/S27/S27HO299.html) "import and export"
> < 輸出 + 輸入

But an interpunct (・) is required when the result spelling causes confusion
(colliding with existing words):

> [北{きた}・東{ひがし}アジア](http://researchmap.jp/jor5kvumk-45644/) "North and East
> Asia" cf. 北東{ほくとう} "northeast"  
>  [環状1・2号線](http://www.ur-
> net.go.jp/east/order/kouzi/pdf/ur2008e_ord0324_01.pdf) "the ring road 1/2"

In your case, however, the word 音訓読み is already reserved for "a type of
2-kanji word where the former is read in 音読み and the latter in 訓読み", so you
should avoid this wording (but should be understood with aid of the context).
Fortunately, as mentioned in a comment, what you mean can be conveyed by
another word [音訓](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/34326/meaning/m0u/).

