There are many jukugo where the kanji are used purely because their sounds match the word.
熟語の構成 is the term you’re looking for.
There are a few types: 上下 (opposite meaning), 寒冷 (similar meaning), 牛肉(first kanji describes/specifies the second), 登山 (first is a verb, second is a noun, 山を登る), 市営 (first is noun, second is verb, 市が営む)
If it’s not one of these it’s probably some other weird historical reason. In that case search the word and 語源.
To understand this completely, you would probably have to know classical Chinese. Do you have any particularly confusing examples?
As for resources, Wiktionary gives some etymology, but it may not give a complete explanation in some cases.
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There are many jukugo where the kanji are used purely because their sounds match the word.
熟語の構成 is the term you’re looking for.
There are a few types: 上下 (opposite meaning), 寒冷 (similar meaning), 牛肉(first kanji describes/specifies the second), 登山 (first is a verb, second is a noun, 山を登る), 市営 (first is noun, second is verb, 市が営む)
If it’s not one of these it’s probably some other weird historical reason. In that case search the word and 語源.
To understand this completely, you would probably have to know classical Chinese. Do you have any particularly confusing examples?
As for resources, Wiktionary gives some etymology, but it may not give a complete explanation in some cases.