Furigana? Common

[I-samu]

I'm wondering about furigana.
Is it common in Japan? If not, where would be furigana be?

[richvh]

Depends on the target audience. The manga I'm reading (aimed at teens) has furigana on every kanji. The book the reading club is reading (aimed at adults) only has furigana on words with multiple readings.

[Frumious Boojum]

Furigana is pretty much exclusive to books targeted at levels that may or may not know the pronunciation of the kanji yet, poetry for artistic purposes, multiple readings, and obscure kanji.

It's common, but not so common that you can forget about learning the required kanji.

[jinksys]

Frumious Boojum wrote:
...
It's common, but not so common that you can forget about learning the required kanji.

I Agree.

I am currently reading cowboy bebop (a manga) and it has furigana on some words, mostly uncommon words. Too many beginners of japanese hate kanji, when in fact they should love them. I would much rather read one symbol for dog, rather than three.

[tanuki]

jinksys wrote:
I would much rather read one symbol for dog, rather than three.

Huh? Three?

[jinksys]

tanuki wrote:

jinksys wrote:
I would much rather read one symbol for dog, rather than three.

Huh? Three?

lol I was thinking of D-O-G in my mind, even though I said INU.

TWO hiragana, two!

[AJBryant]

I'm wondering about furigana.
Is it common in Japan?

<smartass response> Well, it's a lot more common there than in Lithuania.... </smartass response>


Tony
(I'm so sorry....);)

[jinksys]

AJBryant wrote:

I'm wondering about furigana.
Is it common in Japan?

<smartass response> Well, it's a lot more common there than in Lithuania.... </smartass response>


Tony
(I'm so sorry....);)

Actually lithuanian is required for most high school students in japan.
To find out more, click -> http://tinyurl.com/s4rc3

[Machina Maw]

AJBryant wrote:

I'm wondering about furigana.
Is it common in Japan?

<smartass response> Well, it's a lot more common there than in Lithuania.... </smartass response>


Tony
(I'm so sorry....);)

Hahaha

[two_heads_talking]

you will find furigana in newpapers even. it is usually used when a word or combination of words has many different allowable readings and the author wants to make sure you are reading it correctly. i always look for it as it helps me interpret words and meanings better.

too bad it isn't everywhere.

[Harisenbon]

you will find furigana in newpapers even.

Really? I don't think I've ever seen a newspaper article with furigana. I have seen parenthesis for some names and really rare kanji/explanations, but I've never seen furigana. Do they shift the whole column over when they do that? There's zero space inbetween the columns in the newspapers I read.
(朝日新聞・岐阜経済新聞）

[PandanoTake]

Furigana is used in things aimed for people who may not know the correct pronunciation of the kanji yet. It is also used for rare or obscure kanji. Furigana is in newspapers but is neither rare nor common, especially since newspapers like to shortened many words [including those already shortened]