ふりがな. Small kana written above horizontal kanji or beside vertical kanji to indicate pronunciation. Also called ruby.
Questions tagged [furigana]
57 questions
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What does it mean when newspapers give furigana for 常用{じょうよう} kanji?
In these following examples, a few words are given furigana:
シドニー立てこもり、治安部隊が突入 人質？担架で救出
年賀状家族や友達へ投函
金剛峯寺にゴボウ奉納 黒河道世界遺産目指し
So, it looks like that furigana is provided when a 人名用{じんめいよう} kanji needs to be read. That makes sense. But, here are…
user312440
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Can "furigana" be used to refer to ruby that isn't kana?
In English, the term ruby refers to small text set above the main text (in horizontal writing) or to the right of the main text (in vertical writing). From Wikipedia:
Ruby characters (ルビ) are small, annotative glosses that can be placed above or…
user1478
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1 answer
What's it called when furigana push characters apart because they're so long?
Here on Japanese.SE, sometimes we see furigana like 司る【つかさどる】, where the characters beneath the furigana get pushed apart because the furigana doesn't quite fit. Sometimes when I'm writing answers I find myself avoiding furigana because I think it…
user1478
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What is the rule to write furigana (ruby)?
I am confused in determining the correct way to write furigana.
Is a furigana only allowed to be attached to a single kanji character? In other words, can a furigana attached to more than one kanji character? If a furigana can only be attached to a…
kiss my armpit
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How to interpret this mismatched furigana?
I understand that mistmached furigana can be used to show another layer, but I can't figure out how to interpret this.
I guess it's highlighting the word メイン. Like the hamburger is the main thing she took?
Dani
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What does this use of kanji in ruby text mean?
In the manga らんま 1/2, a character from China says the following:
気{き}をつけるよろし、ムースは[暗器]{かくし武器}の[達人]{たつじん}よ。
My question is about [暗器]{かくし武器}. The ruby is just as I've typed it, with two tiny kanji included. As I understand it, ruby text usually…
user1478
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4 answers
Why does furigana often appear in the most unnecessary places in Japanese books?
I'm been starting to try to read some Japanese novels recently, and one thing that struck me was that when furigana is used, it seemed to show up in the most unnecessary places.
For example, in the first few pages of Haruki Murakami The Wind-Up…
Aqualone
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How do I correctly display furigana?
I've started to program for android recently and one of my side projects is to make a simple app for learning basic japanese vocabulary and I've been wondering what's the correct way to display furigana between these two.
1.
2.
Is one more standard…
Louis Boux
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How accurate is the ふりがな on Aozora Books?
I would love to use Aozra Books as a learning tool, but the accuracy of its ふりがな concerns me. This book, for example, claims 私 is pronounced わたくし instead of わたし.
Is the former a proper pronunciation?
Steven Edwards
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How useful is furigana for most adults and teenagers?
If I am going to print some text to give to backpackers, is adding furigana worthwhile? It's important to avoid misunderstanding, but I would think people coming from Japan to Spain would be fairly literate.
WGroleau
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