映照 (yìng zhào) — to shine upon, to illuminate; to reflect (as in a mirror or water); (figurative) to combine to create a beautiful scene, to be set off beautifully

Definition

Literary verb meaning light or color falls on a surface and is reflected back, often used to describe scenic, poetic imagery (e.g. moonlight on a lake). Less common than 照 or 反照 in everyday speech.

verb
to shine uponto illuminateto reflect (as in a mirror or water)(figurative) to combine to create a beautiful scene, to be set off beautifully

Examples

  • 映照，。
    Yuè guāng yìng zhào zài hú miàn shàng, fēi cháng měi lì.
    Moonlight shines upon the lake surface, very beautiful.
  • 映照。
    Xī yáng de yú huī yìng zhào zhe gǔ lǎo de chéng qiáng.
    The afterglow of the setting sun shines upon the ancient city wall.
  • 映照，。
    Dēng huǒ yǔ xīng guāng xiāng hù yìng zhào, gòu chéng le yì fú měi lì de yè jǐng.
    Lights and starlight shine upon each other, forming a beautiful night scene.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

映yìngreflect/shine
照zhàoshine/illuminate

映 gives reflecting or shining and 照 gives lighting, together meaning to shine upon or reflect.

Characters in this word

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.

Open 映 →

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
灬Written in full as火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
昭
昭zhāo照zhào
Same sound today

照 uses 灬, a bottom form of 火 (fire), plus 昭 for the sound.

Open 照 →

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