Is 蛛 from the word 蜘蛛? Is it a silent kanji?


  
The word 蜘【くも】蛛 consists of two kanji, 蜘【くも】 and 蛛, but in only 蜘【くも】 has the
furigana くも.  
Does this make the 蜘 part silent?  
If this is the case, are there rules for silent kanji?




No, the reading くも is [a special
reading](http://www16.atpages.jp/kanjikentei/jukujikun.html) assigned to the
entire compound 蜘蛛, not to the first kanji. You might see the furigana for the
compound printed over the first kanji sometimes, depending on how it's
aligned, but if so you should interpret it as the reading for the entire
compound.




No, the reading くも is [a special
reading](http://www16.atpages.jp/kanjikentei/jukujikun.html) assigned to the
entire compound 蜘蛛, not to the first kanji. You might see the furigana for the
compound printed over the first kanji sometimes, depending on how it's
aligned, but if so you should interpret it as the reading for the entire
compound.

