影 yǐng — picture; image; reflection; shadow
树的影子映在水里。Shù de yǐng zi yìng zài shuǐ lǐ.The shadow of the tree is reflected in the water.
Common words: 电影 (diàn yǐng)、电影院 (diàn yǐng yuàn)、影响 (yǐng xiǎng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "reflection"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "reflection", including 影 (yǐng), 鉴 (jiàn). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "reflection" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 影 (yǐng), 鉴 (jiàn) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span yǐng, jiàn — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 影 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 影 yǐngpicture; image; reflection; shadowUseful words: 电影, 电影院
- 鉴 jiànexample; mirror; to view; reflection; to reflect; to inspectUseful words: 鉴定, 鉴于
Common words for these 2 "reflection" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 影 (yǐng) — so "reflection" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
电影diàn yǐngmovie; film电影院diàn yǐng yuàncinema; movie theater影响yǐng xiǎnginfluence; effect; to influence; to affect (usually adversely)鉴定jiàn dìngto examine sth to determine its authenticity, quality, value etc; to appraise; to evaluate; to authenticate鉴于jiàn yúin view of; seeing that; considering; whereas鉴别jiàn biéto differentiate; to distinguish
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "reflection".
鉴 jiàn — example; mirror; to view; reflection; to reflect; to inspect
专家正在鉴定这件文物的真假。Zhuān jiā zhèng zài jiàn dìng zhè jiàn wén wù de zhēn jiǎ.The expert is appraising whether this relic is genuine.
Common words: 鉴定 (jiàn dìng)、鉴于 (jiàn yú)、鉴别 (jiàn bié)
All 2 characters
Open 影、鉴 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.