映はえる

は

え

る

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

shine; glow; be radiant

Describes something that catches light beautifully, such as a landscape, object, or person's appearance. Often used for natural or enhanced radiance.

夕ゆう日ひに映はえる山やま々やまが美うつくしい。
The mountains shining in the evening sun are beautiful.
彼かの女じょの笑え顔がお

が

写しゃ

真しん

で

よく

映は

え

て

いる

。

Her smile looks radiant in the photo.

2

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

look attractive; look nice; be set off (by)

Often used when something looks better because of its surroundings, contrast, or presentation. Common in social media contexts for photogenic appeal.

この服ふくは背はい景けいが暗くらいと映はえる。
This outfit looks great against a dark background.
インスタ映ばえするカフェを探さがしている。
I'm looking for a café that looks good on Instagram.

Written forms

映はえるUsage99%
Primary kanji form; used for both literal shining and figurative attractiveness.
はえるUsage1%
栄はえる
Alternate kanji form; less common and may be confused with 栄える (さかえる, 'to prosper').

Kanji

映reflect, reflection, projection
栄flourish, prosperity, honor

Similar words

栄さかえる
栄える (さかえる) means 'to prosper' or 'to flourish', while 映える (はえる) means 'to shine' or 'to look attractive'. The kanji 栄 can be read either way, but the meanings are distinct.
光ひかる
光る is a more general word for 'to shine' or 'to glitter', while 映える emphasizes looking beautiful or radiant due to light or contrast.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 生える (はえる, 'to grow') with a semantic shift toward 'to stand out' or 'to look vivid'. The kanji 映 is associated with reflecting light and looking attractive.