mirror

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is きょう, and the kun reading is かがみ. It has 19 strokes. It appears in words for mirrors and eyeglasses.
• Basic usage: 鏡 is read かがみ and 眼鏡 is read めがね.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 鏡 / 眼鏡
  • 鏡 means mirror and is read かがみ. It refers to a mirror used to check one’s appearance.
  • 出かける前に鏡で髪形を確認した。 means “I checked my hair in the mirror before going out.”
  • 眼鏡 means glasses or eyeglasses and is read めがね. It refers to glasses worn to improve vision.
  • 眼鏡を外すと黒板の字がぼやけて見える。 means “Without my glasses, the writing on the board looks blurry.”