Necessity for Furigana in Japanese

The form that pronunciation of kanji is described by "a hiragana letter or katakana" is called "Furigana or Yomogana".

Kanji with two or more pronunciations is numerous in Japan.
"What is the pronunciation of this name?"
"What is the pronunciation of this name of a place?"
The Japanese is often annoyed by such a problem.

The "Furigana(or Yomigana) custom" exists in Japan for that.

If we do not investigate voluntarily, it doesn't often turn out concerning the name of a place.

Well, "Furigana" and "Yomigana" are used by the same purpose.

You will surely think like this.
"If so, why are there two names?"

These difference points are little.

<ふりがな/フリガナ[Furigana]>:
Furigana is a character that affixes to kanji etc. and is written in a small character.
It is called, "Ruby" in printed matter.

<よみがな[Yomigana]>:
Yomigana is a character for pronunciation to be shown.
It need not be written like the ruby.
Therefore, even if it is a large character, Yomogana is OK.

Notation	Hiragana notation	Katakana notation	Kanji mixed notation
Furigana	ふりがな	フリガナ	振り仮名
Yomigana	よみがな	ヨミガナ	読み仮名

 

Furugana is used in cases like the following.

1. The pronunciation of kanji for the personal name which is entered to the document [Official document chiefly.]

In Japan, a lot of kanji with several kinds of pronunciations exists.
Therefore, in the case of the name without Furigana, misreading sometimes occurs.
The existence of Furugana is a Japan's custom to evade such a mistake.

Look at the image of the right side.

This is a common Japanese resume.
<The image expands when clicked.>

The part enclosed with red yen is space for "Furigana".
Pronunciation of each kanji is described here.

Furigana is generally described by the Hiragana or Katakana.

But, there is the case that a description form of Furigana is appointed.

This is my full name.
My first name is Rie, and the last name is Hara.

You should write Furigana right above kanji.

Thus, when the character of "Furigana" is written with Hiragana, you should write Furigana by the hiragana.

And, when the character of "Furigana" is written by the katakana, you should write Furigana by the katakana.

These are Japanese rules.

2. Furigana used for "Publication" of book and textbook, etc.

Japanese has quite a lot of kanji.
Moreover, kanji of Japan has Onyomi and Kunyomi.
The idiom with which those kanji is combined exists innumerably.
Therefore, a lot of kanji that even the Japanese cannot read exists.
Therefore, Furugana is used for the textbook of books, a publication, and a school so that all people can read.

 

3. Furigana used for the purpose which emphasizes the word.

Left image is a name of the Japanese canned beer.
<The image expands when clicked.>

Furigana is put on the kanji of "GOKU-UMA".

"Goku-Uma" is new word expression of Japan with the meaning of "being very nice."

By using Furigana, this is effective in collecting a consumer's eyes.

There is a case where Furigana is used like this.

 

 

Reason why "Furigana" is necessary for Japanese name.

Kanji of Japan has "Onyomi" and "Kunyomi".

Therefore, a lot of Japanese names with the pronunciation of some kinds exist.

Look at the image below.

As for a Japanese name, a first name is located behind a family name. Well, "A" is a Japanese woman's full name. The case of A is a name in which a first name and a last name have two kinds of pronunciation, respectively. Therefore, judging from the combination of the pronunciations, this is a name with four kinds of pronunciations. Others don't know which pronunciation the pronunciation of her full name has. From such reasons, "Furigana" has a very important role.

Next, let's see B. This is a Japanese male's full name. In the case of his name, it has two kinds of pronunciation of a last name, and three kinds of pronunciation of a first name. When others call him by the full name, the probability that is called by a true pronunciation of his name might be very low. His "Hardship in the name" might be serious. Because it is "Name with six kinds of pronunciations". The Japanese should use "Name with a little difficulty" for own child. But, the Japanese these days tends to give a difficult name to own child.

Well, the last C is my full name. To tell the truth, my full name also has two kinds of pronunciation. My first name has two kinds of pronunciations of "Rie and Toshie". A correct pronunciation of my name is "rie". Others don't know it. In a public place like the hospital, I had a lot of unpleasant experiences that had been called "Hara Toshie". But, many of Japanese might have its experience. These are the reasons to which "Furigana" is indispensable for Japan and Japanese people.

 

Thank you for reading till the last.

 

By Hararie