jing2影

Jyutpingjing2

Yaleyíng

名詞Very common

Definition

Shadow or reflection; an area of relative darkness caused by blocked light, or an image produced by reflection.

shadow; a dim area caused by light being blocked by an object
reflection; an image cast on a surface

colloquialdescriptionsdaily actions

How it's used

Beyond the literal meaning of a shadow, this character is the foundation for the verb 影相, which means to take a photograph. It functions as a noun for a silhouette or a reflection, but it is rarely used to describe a dark, gloomy atmosphere in the way that shadow might be used metaphorically in English.

Measure word

tiu4條tìuh

Examples

zaan2盞dang1燈ziu3照zyu6住go3個bui1杯，coeng4牆soeng6上min6面jau5有tiu4條jing2影。

The lamp is shining on the cup, there is a shadow on the wall.

nei5你kei5企hai2喺dou6度m4唔hou2好juk1郁，ngo5我soeng2想jing2影dai1低nei5你go3個jing2影。

Stand there and don't move, I want to take a photo of your shadow.

Common phrases

jing2影soeng2相

to take a photo

syu6樹jing2影

tree shadow

Common mistake

Learners often confuse 影 with 照, which means to shine or to look into a mirror. While 影 refers to the resulting shadow or the act of capturing an image, 照 is the action of light hitting an object.