照 means “shine on, illuminate”

てらす · terasu

Also: shine, compare, bashful

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

てる, てらす, てれる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ショウ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 4 · 13 strokes

The story

The sun (日) summoned (召) above a fire (灬): light called down from every side. 照らす is to light up, 照明 is lighting, and children hang てるてる坊主 dolls, from 照る, to shine, to wish for a sunny day.

Used in 照らす (terasu, to light up), 照明 (shoumei, lighting), and 照れる (tereru, to feel shy)

More from Handle With Care

• 詰 pack
• 埋 bury
• 封 seal
• 捨 throw away
• 沈 sink
• 拾 pick up
• 磨 polish
• 挟 put between
• 査 examine
• 含 contain
• 接 contact
• 捜 search for

Learn 照 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.