鏡
kagami[ka̠ɡa̠mʲi]
The English phrase "mirrors" is translated into Japanese as 鏡 (kagami).
Did you know?
- In the Shinto religion the 鏡 is one of the Three Imperial Regalia of Japan. It represents wisdom and purity and is considered a sacred object of the sun goddess Amaterasu.
- The word 鏡 is built from the ancient components for 'shadow' and 'seeing'. This suggests that, to ancient Japanese speakers, a mirror was something that allowed one to see one's own shadow or image.
- Ancient Japanese mirrors were often made of polished bronze rather than glass. Because they were cast in metal they often featured intricate designs on the back that were believed to hold spiritual power.
Examples in context
- 今日は鏡を買いました。Today, I bought a mirror.
- 鏡を磨いてください。kagami o migaite kudasai.Please polish the mirror.
- この鏡はとても大きいです。kono kagami wa totemo ookii desu.This mirror is very large.
- 鏡の中に何が見えますか？kagami no naka ni nani ga miemasu ka?What do you see in the mirror?
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are decorating a room together.
- 結衣 Yui蓮さん、鏡はどこに置きますか？Ren-san, kagami wa doko ni okimasu ka?Ren, where shall we put the mirror?
- 蓮 Renあそこの壁がいいと思います。Asoko no kabe ga ii to omoimasu.I think that wall over there is good.
- 結衣 Yuiそうですね。ちょうどいい場所です。Sou desu ne. Choudo ii basho desu.You're right. That's the perfect spot.
- 蓮 Renよし、一緒に運ぼう。Yoshi, issho ni hakobou.Alright, let's carry it together.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 鏡, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 鏡, CC BY-SA 4.0.
