What is furigana meaning?

Furigana is a form of small text that is used to aid in the reading of difficult or uncommon kanji characters in Japanese writing. It is often found printed above or next to the kanji characters, providing the reader with the pronunciation of the kanji. Furigana is commonly used in children's books, language learning materials, and in publications aimed at a broad audience.

Furigana can be particularly helpful for learners of the Japanese language, as well as for native speakers who may not be familiar with certain kanji characters. It can also be used to clarify the pronunciation of names or terms that may be unfamiliar to the reader.

In addition to aiding in pronunciation, furigana can also be used to indicate the readings of homonyms or to provide additional context or information about the kanji characters. Overall, furigana serves as a helpful tool for improving the readability and comprehension of written Japanese text.