Does the meaning of the Kanji change based on its reading


Most Kanji have multiple readings. For example 人 has got the readings:

  * ひと
  * ジン
  * ニン

Does the meaning change when the Kanji is read differently. I don't think that
the meaning of this Kanji changes based on its reading but are there some
Kanji that do?




The answer is a bit more complex than a simple yes or no. The reality is that
meaning can change with the reading, it stay the same even though reading
changes, or one reading can have multiple meanings based on context.

* * *

**Case 1:** Meaning changes with reading

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, neither should it be treated
as such.

> 行｛い｝く -- to go  
>  行｛おこな｝う -- to do/perform  
>
>
> 本｛ほん｝-- book  
>  本｛もと｝ -- origin (note however, that this is usually written as 元)

* * *

**Case 2:** Meaning does not change with readings

As you have noted, 人 is one of these characters. Here's a few more examples.

> 日｛にち｝-- day  
>  日々｛ひび｝ -- daily
>
> 本歌｛ほんか｝ -- [original verse poem](https://jisho.org/word/%E6%9C%AC%E6%AD%8C)  
>  本{もと}を正｛ただ｝す -- [to go to the bottom of an affair; to inquire into the
> origin](https://jisho.org/word/%E6%9C%AC%E3%82%92%E6%AD%A3%E3%81%99)

* * *

**Case 3:** One reading has multiple meanings

You may have noticed from my previous examples that 本 is one of these
characters.

> 本人｛ほんにん｝ -- The person themselves; said person; the person in question  
>  本棚｛ほんだな｝ -- Bookshelf  
>  本｛ほん｝-- counter for cylindrical shaped items, note that it is sometimes
> read as ぽん or ぼん depending on the number.
>
> 行動｛こうどう｝ -- action; conduct; behavior  
>  行程｛こうてい｝-- [journey; course; distance; march; flight;
> drive](https://jisho.org/word/%E8%A1%8C%E7%A8%8B) (this word is somewhat
> uncommon)

* * *

For your reference, I will include links to the kanji listings in the
dictionary for your further study (click the kanji for the link):

[**行**](https://jisho.org/search/%E8%A1%8C%E3%80%80%E3%81%93%E3%81%86)
[**本**](https://jisho.org/search/%E6%9C%AC%20%23kanji)
[**日**](https://jisho.org/search/%E6%97%A5%20%23kanji)




The answer is a bit more complex than a simple yes or no. The reality is that
meaning can change with the reading, it stay the same even though reading
changes, or one reading can have multiple meanings based on context.

* * *

**Case 1:** Meaning changes with reading

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, neither should it be treated
as such.

> 行｛い｝く -- to go  
>  行｛おこな｝う -- to do/perform  
>
>
> 本｛ほん｝-- book  
>  本｛もと｝ -- origin (note however, that this is usually written as 元)

* * *

**Case 2:** Meaning does not change with readings

As you have noted, 人 is one of these characters. Here's a few more examples.

> 日｛にち｝-- day  
>  日々｛ひび｝ -- daily
>
> 本歌｛ほんか｝ -- [original verse poem](https://jisho.org/word/%E6%9C%AC%E6%AD%8C)  
>  本{もと}を正｛ただ｝す -- [to go to the bottom of an affair; to inquire into the
> origin](https://jisho.org/word/%E6%9C%AC%E3%82%92%E6%AD%A3%E3%81%99)

* * *

**Case 3:** One reading has multiple meanings

You may have noticed from my previous examples that 本 is one of these
characters.

> 本人｛ほんにん｝ -- The person themselves; said person; the person in question  
>  本棚｛ほんだな｝ -- Bookshelf  
>  本｛ほん｝-- counter for cylindrical shaped items, note that it is sometimes
> read as ぽん or ぼん depending on the number.
>
> 行動｛こうどう｝ -- action; conduct; behavior  
>  行程｛こうてい｝-- [journey; course; distance; march; flight;
> drive](https://jisho.org/word/%E8%A1%8C%E7%A8%8B) (this word is somewhat
> uncommon)

* * *

For your reference, I will include links to the kanji listings in the
dictionary for your further study (click the kanji for the link):

[**行**](https://jisho.org/search/%E8%A1%8C%E3%80%80%E3%81%93%E3%81%86)
[**本**](https://jisho.org/search/%E6%9C%AC%20%23kanji)
[**日**](https://jisho.org/search/%E6%97%A5%20%23kanji)

