This is one of the pages of the sci.lang.japan Frequently Asked Questions.

Top: Introduction and Contents >> 4. The Japanese writing system >> 4.3. Other questions on writing systems

4.3.3. What is furigana?

Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/images/fujiname.gif

Furigana (振仮名), also known as rubi (ルビ) or rubii (ルビー) from "ruby", the name of the size of the type used to print them, are small kana characters placed adjacent to kanji to indicate the pronunciation.

Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/images/plantx.jpeg These small characters are used most extensively on books for Japanese children, as seen in the above plant dictionary, but they are also used to write difficult-to-read characters in adult books. They are also widely used in textbooks for foreign students of the Japanese language. Using the characters on all of the kanji, as seen in the above picture, is called sourubi (総ルビ).


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