Japanese Conversation · Level 40
90 words
Japanese word
映す
Pronunciation
Romajiutsusu
Meaning
- verbreflect
Example
湖が山を映します。mizuumi ga yama o utsu shi ma su
The lake reflects the mountain.
More examples
曇った水面は空の色をうまく映しません。kumo tta sui men wa sora no iro o u ma ku utsu shi ma se n
Cloudy water does not reflect the color of the sky well.
Core concept
It means making something visible on a surface as a reflected or projected image, including a scene, light, or shadow.
Common phrases
光を映すhikari o utsu su
reflect light
水面に景色を映すsui men ni keshiki o utsu su
reflect scenery on the water
Similar words
映し出すutsushidasu: To make an image appear clearly on a surface.
投影するtōeisuru: To send an image onto a screen or other surface using light.
反射するhanshasuru: To bounce light or an image back from a surface.
Definition in Japanese
光や影、物の姿などを、別の面に現れるようにすること。hikari ya kage mono no sugata na do o betsu no men ni arawa re ru yō ni su ru ko to
Word origin
映す (utsusu, "to make appear") is a native Japanese verb in the same inherited word family as 映る (utsuru, "to appear or be reflected"); it is not formed by adding a suffix to the modern verb 映る.
Usage tips
- In Japanese, 映す (utsusu) applies both to a landscape appearing in water and to an image appearing on a screen, so context determines whether reflect or project is the closer English choice.
Other meanings
- projectverb
- cast a shadowverb
Opposites
- 吸収するkyūshūsuruabsorbverb
Related words
- 映し方utsushikataway of reflectingnoun