How to use furigana when reading Japanese

The idea

Furigana are small kana that show how to read a written word, not its meaning. Read the whole word with the kana, check its meaning in the sentence, then cover the reading and try again. Compare 水（みず） with 水曜日（すいようび）: the same character has different readings in different words. Keep the whole word and its context together when you practise.

Examples

• 今日きょうは水曜日すいようびです。Today is Wednesday.
• 水みずを一杯いっぱい飲のみます。I drink a glass of water.
• 明日あした、学校がっこうへ行いきます。I will go to school tomorrow.
• 学生がくせいは本ほんを読よみます。The student reads a book.
• 先生せんせいは日本語にほんごを教おしえます。The teacher teaches Japanese.
• 一人ひとりで駅えきに行いきます。I go to the station alone.

Watch out

Do not assume one kanji has only one reading, or that a reading tells you the meaning. Furigana are a scaffold; use them when needed rather than hiding them before you are ready.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the reading: 水曜日の読よみ方かたはどれですか。（すいようび／みずようび）

   Show answer or example answer

   すいようび

   The word is read すいようび。 The example says: Today is Wednesday.

2. Choose the reading: 「水を一杯いっぱい飲のみます」の水の読よみ方かたはどれですか。（みず／すい）

   Show answer or example answer

   みず

   The word is read みず。 The example says: I drink a glass of water.

3. Choose the reading: 学生の読よみ方かたはどれですか。（がくせい／がくしょう）

   Show answer or example answer

   がくせい

   The word is read がくせい。 The example says: The student reads a book.

Use it today

Choose two words with a shared kanji. Read them with furigana, cover the readings, and check both again tomorrow.