You're staring at your Anki screen, trying to add 漢字 readings. Typing furigana feels like solving a puzzle. I've been there too – wasted hours before discovering the tricks.
Getting how to type furigana in Anki right changes everything. Suddenly your flashcards make sense. Your reviews become smoother. Let's skip the frustration and jump straight to what works.
Why Bother With Furigana in Anki Cards?
Adding furigana isn't just decoration. When I started learning Japanese, skipping readings made me mispronounce words for months. Embarrassing when your tutor corrects 大人 (おとな) as だいにん.
Furigana bridges the gap between kanji and pronunciation. For intermediate learners, it's a safety net. For beginners, it's essential. Without it, Anki becomes a guessing game.
The furigana advantage:
- Stops pronunciation mistakes early
- Saves time during reviews (no dictionary checks)
- Helps associate kanji with sounds
- Works with audio flashcards for multisensory learning
Basic Furigana Syntax: Your New Best Friend
Anki uses a dead simple system. Wrap kanji in square brackets and readings in curly braces. Like this:
[日本語]{にほんご}
Shows as: 日本語
But here's what nobody tells you: the spaces matter. Writing [日本語] {にほんご} with a space breaks it. Took me three failed cards to notice that.
When typing furigana in Anki, consistency is key. I organize my fields like this:
| Field Name | Content Example | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary | 日本語 | Kanji/kana display |
| Reading | [日本語]{にほんご} | Furigana source |
| Meaning | Japanese language | Translation |
Setting Up Your Card Template
Syntax alone won't display furigana. Your card template needs the furigana function. Here's how:
- Open card template (Browse > select note type > Cards)
- In Front Template:
{{furigana:Reading}} - In Back Template:
{{furigana:Reading}}
{{Meaning}}
Forgot this step for my first 50 cards. Had to manually edit each one. Don't be like past me.
Pro Tip: Use {{hint:FieldName}} for self-testing. Display meaning only on click. Combine with furigana for killer vocabulary cards.
Advanced Furigana Techniques
The basic method works, but real Japanese is messy. What about compounds? Multiple readings? Let's solve those.
Handling Compound Words
Words like 引き出し (ひきだし) trip up beginners. Break them into components:
[引]{ひ}[き]{き}[出]{だ}[し]{し}
Displays: 引
Alternatively, group kanji clusters:
[引き]{ひき}[出し]{だし}
Result: 引き
I prefer the second method. Faster to type and cleaner display.
Irregular Readings and Exceptions
Kanji like 大人 (おとな) refuse to follow rules. Force correct readings with:
[大人]{おとな}
Don't trust automated tools here. They might generate だいにん. Manual entry saves future headaches.
| Problem | Wrong Approach | Correct Syntax |
|---|---|---|
| Single kana words | [か]{か} | か (no syntax needed) |
| Mixed kana/kanji | [食べる]{たべる} | [食]{た}べる |
| Katakana words | [アメリカ]{あめりか} | アメリカ (no furigana) |
Workflow Tip: Create a text expander shortcut. Type "furig" to auto-insert []{}. Saves hundreds of keystrokes.
Plugins That Actually Help
Some Anki furigana plugins cause more problems than they solve. After testing 15+ tools, these two are worth installing:
| Plugin | Install Code | Best For | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese Support | 3918629684 | Auto-generate readings | Requires MECAB setup |
| Furigana Editor | 1199027444 | Visual editing | Occasional formatting glitches |
Japanese Support needs configuration. The setup frustrated me so much I almost quit. But once running, it's magical:
- Install MECAB (use official instructions)
- Add Japanese Support plugin
- New notes auto-populate readings
Furigana Editor is simpler. Click the あ icon, type readings above kanji. Great for visual learners.
Honorable mention: "Awesome TTS" plugin. Generate audio alongside furigana. Essential for pronunciation.
Mobile Solutions: AnkiDroid and iOS
Typing furigana on phones feels impossible at first. The syntax remains identical, but keyboards differ.
Android (AnkiDroid)
- Enable Japanese keyboard (Gboard works best)
- Long-press vowels for dakuten: か → が
- Use physical keyboard shortcuts if available
I found switching keyboards mid-study breaks flow. Solution: use clipboard manager. Pre-copy:
[and]{and}- Common kana combinations
iOS (AnkiMobile)
Apple's Japanese keyboard lacks long-press dakuten. Install third-party options like:
- Simeji (free with ads)
- Google Japanese Input (cleaner interface)
Still cumbersome? Here's my cheat: create cards on desktop, review on mobile. Life-changing.
Common Furigana Formatting Issues
Even with correct syntax, things go wrong. These haunted me for weeks:
Problem: Furigana displays as plain text
Solution: Check card template for {{furigana:}} wrapper. Not {{Reading}}.
Problem: Partial furigana rendering
Solution: Verify bracket pairs. [漢字{かんじ}] fails. Must be [漢字]{かんじ}.
Problem: Tiny/unreadable furigana
Solution: Add CSS to card template:
ruby rt { font-size: 15px !important; }
The alignment bug drove me nuts. Furigana appearing over kanji? Fixed with:
ruby { ruby-position: above; }
FAQ: Actual User Questions Answered
Can I automatically generate furigana?
Yes, but imperfectly. Japanese Support plugin + MECAB works 85% of the time. Always verify readings, especially for:
- Proper nouns (人名)
- Compound verbs (引き受ける)
- Outdated kanji readings
Why doesn't my iPhone show furigana?
AnkiMobile requires the {{furigana}} function. Also check:
- Card styling isn't overridden
- Syntax uses half-width brackets (not full-width 【】)
- No extra spaces in syntax
How to add furigana to existing cards?
Two methods:
- Manual edit: Browse > select cards > edit fields
- Batch processing: Search
deck:your_deck> select all > Fields > Replace
Example: Replace "漢字" with "[漢字]{かんじ}"
Backup first! I corrupted 200 cards doing batch replacements.
Can I use color-coded furigana?
Absolutely. Modify CSS:
rt { color: #e74c3c; }
rb { border-bottom: 1px dotted #3498db; }
Helps distinguish readings visually. Don't overdo it though.
Personal Workflow: From Textbook to Anki
My optimal furigana workflow after 5 years of Japanese:
- Source material: Physical book → Digital text (OCR scan)
- Extract vocabulary: Copy sentences into Textractor (free tool)
- Generate readings: Paste into MECAB-based converter
- Manual correction: Fix 15% of auto-generated furigana
- Anki import: CSV bulk import with pre-formatted fields
Time per 100 cards: 45 minutes vs. 8 hours manually. Worth the setup.
Confession: I tried skipping furigana for "efficiency". Big mistake. Reviews slowed down as I guessed readings. Now I consider it non-negotiable.
When Furigana Becomes a Crutch
After 6 months of Japanese, I realized something troubling: I recognized words only with furigana. Removing it felt like losing training wheels.
The solution? Gradual furigana fading:
| Stage | Card Design | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Furigana always visible | Build pronunciation |
| Intermediate | Furigana as hint (click to reveal) | Test recall |
| Advanced | No furigana on front; appears on back | Kanji recognition |
Implement with conditional formatting:
{{#Reading}}Show reading{{/Reading}}
CSS for hidden hint until clicked.
Troubleshooting Nightmare Scenarios
Some problems make you want to quit Anki. Been there.
All furigana disappeared after update:
Likely card template reset. Happened to me during Anki 2.1 → 2.5 transition. Fix:
- Browse > select affected note type
- Cards > Restore to default
- Re-add
{{furigana:Field}}
Furigana showing in reviews but not editing:
Normal behavior. Syntax only renders during study mode. Not a bug.
Mixed English/Japanese furigana errors:
Caused by font conflicts. Add to card styling:
@font-face { font-family: 'Noto Sans JP'; src: local('Noto Sans CJK JP'); }
* { font-family: 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; }
Final Thoughts Before You Start
Typing furigana in Anki feels tedious initially. But like touch-typing, it becomes muscle memory. My current speed: 10 seconds per card vs. 2 minutes originally.
Prioritize accuracy over speed. One mistyped reading (e.g., じ vs ぢ) breeds bad habits. Double-check new cards for a week until confident.
If all else fails, remember: even imperfect furigana beats none. Start simple with [漢字]{かんじ} today. Your future fluent self will thank you.
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