This is a combination kana vs. kanji and okurigana question. The word is "omimai". The vocabulary list in my reader uses the one with the kana and okurigana (the "o" at the beginning and the "i" at the end).

But I got confused because another reference book implies that the reading of 舞 is "mai" (i.e., no okurigana).

The following are given by denshi jisho. Do I just pick my favorite? (Personally I like the second one because it's all kanji). I need to pick one because I'm inputting new vocabulary items into my Access database. Thanks!


お見舞
おみまい calling on someone who is ill; enquiry; inquiry

御見舞
おみまい calling on someone who is ill; enquiry; inquiry

お見舞い
おみまい calling on someone who is ill; enquiry; inquiry

御見舞い
おみまい calling on someone who is ill; enquiry; inquiry

I would personally use お見舞い, imho 御見舞 kinda looks a bit stiff.

I would use お見舞い

I once read that, when a compound word uses KUN readings, it's a good practice to include okurigana in the word as a way to signal it to the reader, even if the word can be written without it.
御 can be read as both お (on words with KUN readings) or ご (on words with ON reading); as the kanji is usually skipped unless you write very politely (for example, to your customers), I prefer to use the kana form so that a reader does not have to guess.

お見舞い is what I would use, because it's the default on my IME.

DrJones Wrote:I would use お見舞い

I once read that, when a compound word uses KUN readings, it's a good practice to include okurigana in the word as a way to signal it to the reader, even if the word can be written without it.
御 can be read as both お (on words with KUN readings) or ご (on words with ON reading); as the kanji is usually skipped unless you write very politely (for example, to your customers), I prefer to use the kana form so that a reader does not have to guess.

Thanks for the information. I overlooked the fact that both the kanji in omimai are in fact kun readings. I guess that would perhaps make it inappropriate to use all kanji for this word.

My reader talks about compounds consisting of native Japanese words (like tatemono, building) and how, in order not to confuse the reader, they are often written entirely in kana rather than in kanji.

I like to see what the people on ja wikipedia are using in article titles and bodies. In this case, お見舞い