Editing Ruby character (section)

== Examples ==
Here is an example of Japanese ruby characters (called ''[[furigana]]'') for [[Tokyo]] ("{{lang|ja|東京}}"):

{| class="wikitable"
! [[Hiragana]]
! [[Katakana]]
! [[Romaji]]
|-
| style="text-align: center; font-size: 2.2em;" lang="ja" | {{ Ruby line | 東: とう | 京: きょう }}
| style="text-align: center; font-size: 2.2em;" lang="ja" | {{ Ruby line | 東: トウ | 京: キョウ }}
| style="text-align: center; font-size: 2.2em;" lang="ja" | {{ Ruby line | 東: Tō | 京: kyō }}
|}

Most {{lang|ja-Latn|furigana}} are written with the ''hiragana'' syllabary, but ''[[katakana]]'' and ''[[romaji]]'' are also occasionally used. Alternatively, sometimes foreign words (usually English) are printed with furigana to provide the meaning, and vice versa. Textbooks sometimes<!--In my experience, actually almost never; but this was "usually," which is simply false.--> render [[Kanji#On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)|on-readings]] with katakana and [[Kanji#Kun'yomi (native reading)|kun-readings]] with hiragana.

Here is an example of ruby characters for [[Beijing]] ("{{lang|zh-hant|北京}}") in Zhuyin (a.k.a. Bopomofo), [[Xiao'erjing]], and Pinyin.

{| class="wikitable"
! [[Bopomofo|Zhuyin]]
! [[Xiao'erjing]]
! [[Pinyin]]
|-
| style="text-align: center; font-size: 2.2em;" lang="zh" | {{ Ruby line | 北: ㄅㄟˇ | 京: ㄐㄧㄥ }}
| style="text-align: center; font-size: 2.2em;" lang="fa" | {{ Ruby line | 京: ڭٍ | 北: بِی }}
| style="text-align: center; font-size: 2.2em;" lang="zh" | {{ Ruby line | 北: {{Transliteration|zh|ISO|Běi}} | 京: {{Transliteration|zh|ISO|jīng}} }}
|}

In Taiwan, the main syllabary used for Chinese ruby characters is ''[[Bopomofo|Zhuyin fuhao]]'' (also known as ''Bopomofo''); in mainland China ''[[pinyin]]'' is mainly used. Typically, unlike the example shown above<!--TODO: Edit example when support for CSS (ruby-position: side;) is implemented in browsers or a better kludge than was used.-->, zhuyin is used with a vertical traditional writing and zhuyin is written on the right side of the characters. In mainland China, horizontal script is used and ruby characters (pinyin) are written above the Chinese characters.

[[Xiao'erjing]] is a Perso-Arabic alphabet, adopted by [[Hui people|Hui Muslims]] and at times utilized as ruby characters in various manuscripts. This system does have its shortcomings, mainly that it has no way of indicating tones. With the spread of pinyin, the usage of this system has been in decline in the past decades. Most manuscripts that do mark the characters with Xiao'erjing, do so from right-to-left, which is quite unique, compared to other systems. This is because usually such manuscripts include Arabic texts such as the Quran, and the Chinese writing is the explanation or translation.

Books with phonetic guides (especially pinyin) are popular with children and foreigners learning Chinese.

Here is an example of the Korean ruby characters for [[Korea]] ("{{lang|ko|韓國}}"):

{| class="wikitable"
! [[Hangul]]
! [[Romaja]]
|-
| style="text-align: center; font-size: 2.2em;" lang="ko" | {{ Ruby line| 韓: 한 | 國: 국 }}
| style="text-align: center; font-size: 2.2em;" lang="ko" | {{ Ruby line | 韓: Han | 國: guk }}
|}

Romaja is normally used in foreign textbooks until Hangul is introduced. Ruby characters can be quite common on signs in certain parts of South Korea.

Here is an example of the Vietnamese ruby characters ({{Lang|vi|Chữ Quốc Ngữ}}) for [[Hanoi]] ("{{lang|vi|河內}}"):

{| class="wikitable"
! [[Vietnamese alphabet|''chữ Quốc ngữ'']]
|-
| style="text-align: center; font-size: 2.2em;" lang="vi" | {{ Ruby line | 河: Hà | 內: Nội }}
|}

[[File:SecondPageOfTamthientugiaidichquocngu.png|thumb|Chữ Hán characters are glossed with chữ Nôm and the Vietnamese alphabet.]]
Chinese characters and its derivations of it (''chữ Hán'' and ''chữ Nôm'') which was used by the [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] have fallen out of use in favour of [[Latin script|Latin]]-based script ''[[Vietnamese alphabet|chữ Quốc ngữ]]'' during the French colonial period when it was made a part of compulsory education (1920s onwards). Currently still used by [[Gin people]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}