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I was trying to read a raw copy of the _Ore no Kouhai ga Konnani Kawaii Wake
ga Nai_ and on the page shown below, there's this kanji, 定命: [![enter image
description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/G5Eqm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/G5Eqm.jpg)
As seen, it has the furigana さだめ. However, when I tried looking it up on
dictionaries, I only found two possible readings for said kanji: じょうみょう and
ていめい. I could not find anything with regards to it being read as さだめ. So, why
is the furigana different? Does it convey the same meaning despite this
difference in its reading?


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2021-04-18T13:26:17.217
62533
2021-04-18T23:40:30.170
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question
japanese-language oreimo
Why does 定命 have the furigana さだめ in the Oreimo: Kuroneko manga?


As described in [this answer on the Japanese Language
SE](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/14309/16022), there is a phenomenon
known as "ateji" where the kanji and associated ruby* are not 100% aligned,
either in reading or in meaning. This particular style is especially used in
light novels and manga as a way to provide a double message - the ruby is the
actual word spoken, but the kanji gives a clearer understanding of the desired
meaning.

*A [Ruby character](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_character) is any smaller writing placed above the main writing, technically it's only furigana if it actually provides a guide to the reading of the kanji but that's a distinction that is frequently ignored.


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2021-04-18T23:40:30.170
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2021-04-18T23:40:30.170
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answer