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反照 (はんしょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

反はん照しょう

は

ん

しょ

う

Meanings

1

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Refers to the reflection of light, often used in literary or poetic descriptions of light bouncing off surfaces or water.

湖こ面めんに山やまの影かげが反はん照しょうしている。
The mountain's shadow is reflected on the lake surface.

2

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

; sunset glow

Describes the reddish glow of the sky at sunset; a poetic or literary term for the colors of dusk.

西にしの空そらが反はん照しょうに染そまっている。
The western sky is dyed with the sunset glow.

Kanji

反anti-
照illuminate, shine, compare

Similar words

反はん射しゃ
反射 is the common, everyday word for physical reflection of light, sound, or images. 反照 is a more literary, poetic term for light reflection or sunset glow.
夕ゆう焼やけ
夕焼け is the standard word for sunset glow or the reddening of the sky at dusk. 反照 is a rarer, more literary alternative.

Etymology

Composed of 反 (return, reflect) and 照 (shine, illuminate). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji combination suggests the idea of light being reflected or shining back, which fits both the reflection and sunset glow senses.