I know several Chinese characters but am a relative beginner at Japanese.
I am having trouble, in a dictionary, when I input a sequence of characters, determining where the letters for one set of syllables are absorbed by one kanji and which ones are absorbed by the others. For example, take the word "ukemi" (rear):
- うけみ
- 受け身
- 受身
How do I know which of the following hooks true:
- 受 = う
- 受 = うけ
- 身 = け
- 身 = けみ
How can I tell, from the dictionary, especially from this single dictionary entry, which one of these substitutions holds?
Also, how do I know whether these representations are ON'YOMI or KUN'YOMI? Do some "(kun/on)yomi" have both long and abbreviated forms or something?