Furigana
Definition
Furigana is a small kana script written above or beside kanji characters to indicate their pronunciation. It helps readers, especially beginners, understand how to read unfamiliar kanji.
Analogy
Imagine furigana as training wheels on a bicycle. They provide support and guidance until you become more confident in reading kanji without assistance.
Related terms
Okurigana: The kana suffixes attached to the end of kanji stems to inflect verbs and adjectives.
Yomigana: The reading of a word written in kana above or beside the corresponding kanji.
Ruby Characters: Another term for furigana, commonly used when referring to furigana in printed materials.
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