Yomigana

Yomigana, or yomigana (読み仮名), is a term used in Japanese writing to indicate the pronunciation of a kanji or term by means of kana. It is usually written in kana characters to show how a word should be read, and it is commonly placed near the kanji it accompanies. In horizontal text, the reading is often shown beside or above the characters, while in vertical text it is placed to the right of the kanji.

Distinctions and usage vary by context. In many cases, yomigana and furigana refer to the same concept: kana annotations that reveal pronunciation. Furigana is the typographic method of presenting those readings, whereas yomigana can be used to refer to the actual reading itself or to the set of kana characters used to spell it. In practice, the terms are frequently used interchangeably. Yomigana are widely used in dictionaries, educational materials, children's books, manga, and signage to assist readers with unfamiliar kanji, proper names, or nonstandard readings.

Yomigana can indicate standard pronunciations as well as alternative readings. Some authors use nonstandard readings, known as gikun or ateji, to convey nuance or a particular effect, and these readings are presented as yomigana. In digital text, yomigana are implemented as ruby text in HTML and other formats, allowing readers to see the pronunciation without altering the kanji’s meaning.

Examples include complex or unfamiliar kanji whose readings are provided as yomigana, and proper names or loanwords written in kanji with accompanying kana readings.