映 means “reflect, project”

えい · ei

Also: reflection, projection

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

うつる, うつす, はえる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

エイ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 6 · 9 strokes

The story

Sunlight (日) striking the center (央) of still water, a reflection blooming on the surface. Japan's first projected reflections became 映画, "reflected pictures": the movies.

Used in 映画 (eiga, movie), 映る (utsuru, to be reflected), and 映画館 (eigakan, movie theater)

More from Everyday Japan

• 毎 every
• 写 copy
• 便 convenience
• 服 clothing
• 曜 day of week
• 飯 meal
• 洗 wash
• 同 same
• 円 circle
• 度 degrees
• 午 noon
• 名 name

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

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