映はえる

は

え

る

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

映える · ichidan verb

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	映はえる	映はえない
Polite	映はえます	映はえません
Past polite	映はえました	映はえませんでした
Past	映はえた	映はえなかった
Te-form	映はえて	映はえないで
Desire	映はえたい	映はえたくない
Potential	映はえられるalso 映はえれる	映はえられないalso 映はえれない
Passive	映はえられる	映はえられない
Causative	映はえさせる	映はえさせない
Causative passive	映はえさせられる	映はえさせられない
Volitional	映はえよう
Polite volitional	映はえましょう
Imperative	映はえろ	映はえるな
Conditional	映はえれば	映はえなければ
Tara conditional	映はえたら	映はえなかったら

Meanings

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.

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.

See all 24 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉が〈場ば所しょ〉に映はえるfor something to shine or stand out beautifully against a place/backdrop
紅こう葉ようが青あお空ぞらに映はえる。
The autumn leaves glow beautifully against the blue sky.
〈物もの〉に〈物もの〉が映はえるfor one thing to look great set off by another (often a color or background)
白しろいシャツに赤あかいネクタイが映はえる。
A red tie looks great against a white shirt.
写しゃ真しんに映はえるto look great in photos, be photogenic
この公こう園えんの桜さくらは写しゃ真しんに映はえる。
The cherry blossoms in this park look great in photos.

Kanji

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

Related words

光ひかるN4sense 1
光る is the general word for something shining or glittering, while 映える specifically describes something looking beautiful or radiant because of light, contrast, or setting.
引ひき立たつN1sense 2
引き立つ means something is made to stand out or look better by contrast, very close to 映える in its 'set off by surroundings' sense, but is less tied to visual light/color.
輝かがやくN3sense 1
輝く describes something giving off a bright, dazzling light, whereas 映える focuses on how something appears beautiful in relation to its surroundings.
引ひき立たてるN1
映える is intransitive and describes something looking attractive on its own, while 引き立てる is transitive and describes actively making another thing look better by contrast.
映うつるN2
映える means to look vivid or attractive against a background, close to the figurative 'suit/harmonize' sense of 映る but with a stronger nuance of visual brilliance.

Opposites

見み劣おとり sense 2
見劣りする means to look inferior or less impressive by comparison, the opposite of 映える, which means to look enhanced or more attractive by comparison.

Don't confuse with

栄さかえるN2
栄える shares the same kanji 栄 but is read さかえる and means 'to prosper or flourish', a completely different meaning from 映える (はえる), 'to shine or look attractive'.
栄はえ
映える is a verb meaning 'to look attractive or shine' (often used for photos), while 栄え is the noun for glory or splendor despite sharing the same reading.

Word family

代かわり映ばえ
change for the better; improvement; looking better
夕ゆう映ばえ
sunset glow; evening glow
着き映ばえ
looking good in clothes; clothes that suit someone
化け粧しょう映ばえ
looking great with makeup; makeup looks good on someone
照てり映はえる
shine brightly; glow; be radiant
インスタ映ばえ
Instagrammable; looking 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').

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.