映 (yìng) — to reflect (light or an image); to shine upon; to project (a film, slides, etc.)

Definition

映 means light or an image being cast, reflected, or projected onto a surface. Often used in 映出 (to reflect/project) and 放映 (to screen a film).

verb
to reflect (light or an image)to shine uponto project (a film, slides, etc.)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Hú miàn yìng chū shān de dào yǐng.
    The lake surface reflected the inverted image of the mountain.
  • 映，。
    Xī yáng yìng zài chuāng hu shàng, jīn guāng shǎn shǎn.
    The setting sun shone on the window, glittering with golden light.
  • 。
    Diàn yǐng píng mù yìng chū qīng xī de huà miàn.
    The movie screen projected a clear image.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun
Sound part声符shēngfú
央
央yāng映yìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

映 pairs 日, the sun, with 央 as a sound element.

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