鏡 (jìng) - Mirror & lens

鏡Tone 4

jìng ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

傑君

鏡 · jìng

Mirror;

lens;

glass;

any reflecting or magnifying device;

used metaphorically for clarity, reflection, or reference.

Mirrorlensglass

Usage highlights

MirrorEyeglassesLensTelescopeMicroscopeRearview mirror

Synonyms

  • 鉴— mirror; to inspect; to reflect upon

Antonyms

  • 盲— blind; unable to see

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She looked at herself in the mirror (镜子).
  • The microscope lens (镜片) is very powerful.
  • He needs reading glasses (眼镜).
  • This book serves as a mirror of society (社会的镜子).

Collocations

  • Mirror(镜子)
  • Eyeglasses(眼镜)
  • Lens(镜片)
  • Telescope(望远镜)
  • Microscope(显微镜)
  • Rearview mirror(后视镜)

Idioms

  • The past serves as a mirror for the future(以史为镜)
  • Flowers in the mirror, the moon in the water(镜花水月)
  • Broken mirror reunited(破镜重圆)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Mirrors were historically made of polished bronze in ancient China, symbolizing clarity and truth.
  • In Buddhism, the mirror is a metaphor for the mind's inherent purity and ability to reflect reality without distortion.
  • The character contains the 'metal' radical (金), reflecting the historical material used for mirrors.

FAQ