照镜子 (zhào jìng zǐ) — to look at oneself in the mirror | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A separable verb phrase: 照 (to shine/reflect) + 镜子 (mirror). The 镜 can detach from 子 for aspect/measure insertions (照过镜子, 照一下镜子).

verb

to look at oneself in the mirror

Examples

照镜子。
Wǒ měi tiān zǎo shàng dōu zhào jìng zǐ.
I look in the mirror every morning.
。
Tā zhào le shí fēn zhōng jìng zi.
She looked in the mirror for ten minutes.
。
Nǐ zhào yí xià jìng zi kàn kàn tóu fa.
Take a quick look in the mirror and check your hair.

Origin

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.

灬昭照

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.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鏡; 镜 is its simplified writing.

金竟鏡

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

竟

竟jìng鏡jìng

Same sound today

The traditional form 鏡 puts 金, metal, next to 竟 to give the sound. The simplified 镜 is a later shorthand.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Appears in

Everyday Objects Hygiene & Grooming

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