映 yìng to project
to project; to reflect
How to remember 映: 日 sun + 央 center = to project. The sun sets, the family hangs a white sheet in the center of the garden, and Dad turns on the old machine to project holiday photos.
Component breakdown
映 = 日 sun + 央 center
- 日 sun
- 央 center
The sun sets, the family hangs a white sheet in the center of the garden, and Dad turns on the old machine to project holiday photos.
How it is used
- Bound morpheme meaning to cast light/an image onto something; never used alone.
- 反映 fǎnyìng is the highest-frequency compound - 这反映了一个问题 zhè fǎnyìng le yí ge wèntí, "this reflects/reveals a problem", used for reporting facts or opinions upward, not for physical mirrors.
- 放映 fàngyìng and 上映 shàngyìng are film-specific: 放映 is the act of projecting/screening a movie, 上映 is the movie "opening/showing" in theaters - 电影下周上映 diànyǐng xià zhōu shàngyìng, "the film opens next week".
- Don't confuse 反映 (to report/reflect information) with 反应 fǎnyìng (to react) - same pinyin, different characters and meanings, a classic listening trap.