The kanji 映 generally conveys the idea of reflection, projection, or showing something. It can refer to light reflecting off a surface, images or films being projected, or even the act of something appearing or being reflected in a figurative sense. It often implies a visual aspect, something that is seen or perceived.

・On-yomi (音読み): エイ (ei) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): うつ-る (utsu-ru), うつ-す (utsu-su)

⚫︎映画 (eiga) Translation: movie; film ⚫︎反映 (han'ei) Translation: reflection; to reflect ⚫︎上映 (jouei) Translation: screening; showing (of a film)

The kanji 映 is a phono-semantic compound. The left side is the radical 日 (hi, sun/day) which gives a semantic indication and suggests a visual aspect related to light. The right side is 央 (ou), which is the phonetic component, suggesting the sound and also implying the center or middle. Therefore, the kanji's formation suggests something being reflected or projected like a visual representation in the center.