If a kanji is written on its own, however, we typically use the kun-reading. Here, "kaze" is a word in its own right, meaning "wind".

Kun-readings are also used for adjective stems and verb stems. Look at the definition for the kanji for "old". Notice that its kun-reading, "furu", can be used as the stem of an adjective, "furui", meaning "old".

The kanji is used for the root of the word (i.e. "furu"), with a hiragana suffix (i.e. "i"). The hiragana changes as the adjective declines (e.g. furukunai - not old; furukatta - was old) but the kanji reading remains the same.

The same kun-reading can also be used as the stem of a verb, "furusu", meaning "to wear out". As with the adjective above, the kanji forms the stem of the verb (i.e. "furu"), with a hiragana suffix (i.e. "su"). Again, the hiragana changes as the verb conjugates (e.g. furushita - wore out) but the kanji stays the same.