Are on’yomi words loanwords?


this is probably a silly question, but since words with multiple kanji are
usually read with on’yomi would that effectively make most japanese vocabulary
loanwords? like 森林 or 図書館？i understand differences like how 本 does not mean
book in chinese but it just makes me wonder about how japanese these multi
kanji words are




As far as Japanese is concerned, loanwords (外来語) **usually** refer to words
brought into Japan from countries other than China and written in katakana.
But strictly speaking, it depends on how you define loanwords. Many on-yomi
Sino-Japanese words had been around even before Japanese people learned how to
write their own native words, so IMHO it doesn't make much sense to call them
loanwords. I suppose most English speakers do not want to call [common words
derived from Latin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_influence_in_English)
loanwords, either.

Here are some definitions of 外来語.

> ### [Wikipedia](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%96%E6%9D%A5%E8%AA%9E)
>
> 外来語（がいらいご）とは、日本語における借用語のうち、漢語とそれ以前の借用語を除いたものである。(snip)
> 日本語に入った年代の古い語や日本人の生活や文化に深く浸透したものを指す語の一部（「タバコ」「イクラ」など）も外来語と認識されないことが多い。

> ###
> [デジタル大辞泉](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/37162/meaning/m0u/%E5%A4%96%E6%9D%A5%E8%AA%9E/)
>
> 日本語では、広義には漢語も含まれるが、狭義には、主として欧米諸国から入ってきた語をいう。

> ### 名鏡国語辞典
>
> 中国から入ってきた漢語も広義では外来語だが、ふつう外来語とはしない。

> ### 大辞林 第三版
>
> 広くは漢語も外来語であるが、普通は漢語以外の主として西欧語からはいってきた語をいう。

> ### [loanwords](/questions/tagged/loanwords "show questions tagged
> 'loanwords'") tag
>
> 外来語. Words brought into Japanese from languages other than Chinese.

