font-variant-east-asian

The font-variant-east-asian CSS property controls the use of alternate glyphs for East Asian scripts, like Japanese and Chinese.

Try it

Syntax

css
font-variant-east-asian: normal;
font-variant-east-asian: ruby;
font-variant-east-asian: jis78; /* <east-asian-variant-values> */
font-variant-east-asian: jis83; /* <east-asian-variant-values> */
font-variant-east-asian: jis90; /* <east-asian-variant-values> */
font-variant-east-asian: jis04; /* <east-asian-variant-values> */
font-variant-east-asian: simplified; /* <east-asian-variant-values> */
font-variant-east-asian: traditional; /* <east-asian-variant-values> */
font-variant-east-asian: full-width; /* <east-asian-width-values> */
font-variant-east-asian: proportional-width; /* <east-asian-width-values> */
font-variant-east-asian: ruby full-width jis83;

/* Global values */
font-variant-east-asian: inherit;
font-variant-east-asian: initial;
font-variant-east-asian: revert;
font-variant-east-asian: revert-layer;
font-variant-east-asian: unset;

Values

normal

This keyword leads to the deactivation of the use of such alternate glyphs.

ruby

This keyword forces the use of special glyphs for ruby characters. As these are usually smaller, font creators often designs specific forms, usually slightly bolder to improve the contrast. This keyword corresponds to the OpenType values ruby.

<east-asian-variant-values>

These values specify a set of logographic glyph variants which should be used for display. Possible values are:

Keyword Standard defining the glyphs OpenType equivalent
jis78 JIS X 0208:1978 jp78
jis83 JIS X 0208:1983 jp83
jis90 JIS X 0208:1990 jp90
jis04 JIS X 0213:2004 jp04
simplified None, use the simplified Chinese glyphs smpl
traditional None, use the traditional Chinese glyphs trad
<east-asian-width-values>

These values control the sizing of figures used for East Asian characters. Two values are possible:

  • proportional-width activating the set of East Asian characters which vary in width. It corresponds to the OpenType values pwid.
  • full-width activating the set of East Asian characters which are all of the same, roughly square, width metric. It corresponds to the OpenType values fwid.

Formal definition

Initial valuenormal
Applies toall elements and text. It also applies to ::first-letter and ::first-line.
Inheritedyes
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

font-variant-east-asian = 
  normal                                              |
  [ <east-asian-variant-values> || <east-asian-width-values> || ruby ]  

<east-asian-variant-values> = 
  jis78        |
  jis83        |
  jis90        |
  jis04        |
  simplified   |
  traditional  

<east-asian-width-values> = 
  full-width          |
  proportional-width

Examples

Setting East Asian glyph variants

This example require font "Yu Gothic" installed in your OS, other fonts may not support OpenType features.

HTML

html
<table>
  <thead></thead>
  <tbody style="border:0;">
    <tr>
      <th>normal/jis78:</th>
      <td>麹町</td>
      <td class="jis78">麹町</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <th>normal/ruby:</th>
      <td>しんかんせん</td>
      <td class="ruby">しんかんせん</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <th>normal/traditional:</th>
      <td>大学</td>
      <td class="traditional">大学</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

CSS

css
td {
  font-family: "Yu Gothic";
  font-size: 20px;
}
th {
  color: grey;
  padding-right: 10px;
}

.ruby {
  font-variant-east-asian: ruby;
}

.jis78 {
  font-variant-east-asian: jis78;
}

.traditional {
  font-variant-east-asian: traditional;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification
CSS Fonts Module Level 4
# font-variant-east-asian-prop

Browser compatibility

Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Opera
Safari
Chrome Android
Firefox for Android
Opera Android
Safari on iOS
Samsung Internet
WebView Android
font-variant-east-asian
full-width
jis04
jis78
jis83
jis90
normal
proportional-width
ruby
simplified
traditional

See also