furigana

Definition

Kana printed next to or above a kanji or other character to indicate the pronunciation.

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 振り仮名 (furigana, “annotating kana”, literally “assigned provisional character”).

Example Sentences

• "Furigana are indispensable for some names of people and places whose Kanji are not included among the official Kanji list, and whose sounds can be unusual and even idiosyncratic."