Japanese Conversation · Level 42
90 words
Japanese word
鏡
Pronunciation
Romajikagami
Meaning
- nounmirror
Example
毎朝鏡を見ます。mai asa kagami o mi ma su
I look in the mirror every morning.
More examples
この鏡は部屋を広く見せます。ko no kagami wa heya o hiro ku mi se ma su
This mirror makes the room look bigger.
Core concept
Shows a reflected view of a person or object rather than the thing itself.
Common phrases
鏡を見るkagami o mi ru
look in the mirror
鏡を掛けるkagami o ka ke ru
hang a mirror
鏡に映るkagami ni utsu ru
be reflected in the mirror
Similar words
ミラーmirā: A loanword for a reflective household object, often used in product names and compound terms.
Definition in Japanese
物の姿や光を映して見るための道具。mono no sugata ya hikari o utsu shi te mi ru ta me no dō gu
Word origin
鏡 (kagami) is a native Japanese word with an uncertain original formation, written with 鏡 (kyō, "mirror"), a character chosen for its meaning.
Usage tips
- Before modern glass mirrors, Japanese mirrors were polished bronze discs, and 鏡 (kagami) still refers to the household mirror today.