Read Japanese with less furigana

The idea

Choose a short, familiar passage. Cover the readings and read once for meaning; mark uncertain words without stopping. Then uncover the furigana, check both reading and meaning in context, and reread. On the next session hide readings for familiar words first; keep support for difficult ones. Reduce it further only when you can understand and recall the passage.

Examples

• 朝あさ、駅えきまで歩あるきます。In the morning, I walk to the station.
• 図書館としょかんで新聞しんぶんを読よみます。I read a newspaper at the library.
• 昼ひるに友達ともだちと食事しょくじをします。At noon, I eat with a friend.
• 雨あめが降ふったので、傘かさを買かいました。Because it rained, I bought an umbrella.
• 来週らいしゅう、新あたらしい店みせに行いきます。Next week, I will go to a new shop.
• 分わからない言葉ことばを辞書じしょで調しらべます。I look up words I do not understand in a dictionary.

Watch out

A plausible meaning does not prove you know the pronunciation. Kanji can have different readings in different words; check the whole word, not each character in isolation.

Try it yourself

1. 朝あさ、駅えきまで歩あるきます。駅＝？（えき／えく）

   Show answer or example answer

   えき

   駅 is えき: read the whole word, then check the sentence about walking to the station.

2. 図書館としょかんで新聞しんぶんを読よみます。新聞＝？（しんぶん／しんぷん）

   Show answer or example answer

   しんぶん

   新聞 is しんぶん: the sentence says a newspaper is read at the library; check both meaning and sound.

3. 雨あめが降ふったので、傘かさを買かいました。傘＝？（かさ／かざ）

   Show answer or example answer

   かさ

   傘 is かさ: rain explains why an umbrella was bought; verify the reading after using context.

Use it today

Cover the readings in two examples, say what each means, then uncover them and check. Revisit the same sentences tomorrow.