Word Detail

The Japanese word 鏡 (かがみ - kagami) primarily means "mirror". It refers to a reflective surface, typically made of glass or metal, that reflects an image of whatever is in front of it. It can be a hand-held mirror, a wall mirror, or even the reflective surface of a body of water. 鏡 can also figuratively represent something that reflects or shows something else, like a reflection of society.

⚫︎鏡をください。 Translation: Please give me the mirror. ⚫︎彼女は鏡を見て髪を直しました。 Translation: She looked in the mirror and fixed her hair. ⚫︎この湖はまるで鏡のように景色を映し出しています。 Translation: This lake reflects the scenery like a mirror.

You use 鏡 when referring to a mirror. You can use it in various situations, such as when describing personal grooming, interior design, or even metaphorical reflections. It's a common noun, so its usage is straightforward.

The word 鏡 is written as: ⚫︎ Kanji: 鏡 ⚫︎ Hiragana: かがみ ⚫︎ Katakana: （rarely used） There are no significant variations in the okurigana for this word.

There aren't many direct synonyms for "mirror" in Japanese, but depending on the context, you might use phrases or descriptive words. ⚫︎ For example, if you want to emphasize the reflection, you might say 反射面 (はんしゃめん - hansha men), which means "reflective surface".

There is no direct antonym for "mirror". The opposite of having a mirror would be "not having a mirror" or "something that doesn't reflect".

新しい《鏡が欲しいです。》 ・Translation: I want a new mirror. ・Explanation: This sentence expresses a desire to purchase a new mirror, highlighting its basic meaning.

《鏡に映った自分を見つめました。》 ・Translation: I stared at myself reflected in the mirror. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the action of looking at one's own reflection in a 鏡.

The etymology of 鏡 isn't definitively known, but it's believed to be derived from the combination of 影 (かげ - kage), meaning "shadow" or "reflection", and 見 (み - mi), meaning "to see" or "to look at". Therefore, 鏡 literally means "to see the shadow" or "to see the reflection". The reading "kagami" changed over time.