影(かげ)

かげ
noun
shadow, silhouette, reflection
See also: 陰(かげ) (shade, behind scenes (陰))
1. shadow
A dark area produced by blocking light.
自分(じぶん)の影(かげ)を見(み)た。
I saw my shadow.
木(き)の影(かげ)が地面(じめん)に映(うつ)っている。
The shadow of the tree is cast on the ground.
夕方(ゆうがた)になると、影(かげ)が長(なが)く伸(の)びる。
In the evening, shadows grow long.
2. silhouette, figure
The outline of a person or thing.
人影(ひとかげ)が見(み)えた。
I saw a figure.
彼(かれ)の影(かげ)も見(み)えない。
There's no sign of him at all.
暗(くら)い道(みち)の向(む)こうに、誰(だれ)かの影(かげ)が動(うご)いているのが見(み)えた。
I could see someone's figure moving at the far end of the dark road.
3. reflection
An image seen in water or a mirror.
水(みず)に影(かげ)が映(うつ)る。
A reflection appears on the water.
湖(みずうみ)に山(やま)の影(かげ)が映(うつ)っていた。
The reflection of the mountain was visible on the lake.
風(かぜ)がやんで水面(すいめん)が静(しず)かになると、木々(きぎ)の影(かげ)がくっきりと映(うつ)った。
When the wind died down and the water became still, the reflections of the trees appeared clearly.

影(かげ) has three related meanings: the dark area cast by an object blocking light, the visible outline or figure of a person, and a reflection in water or a mirror.

影(かげ) VS 陰(かげ):

Both are read かげ but differ in nuance:

  • 影(かげ): the shadow itself (dark shape), a silhouette, or reflection
  • 陰(かげ): shaded area, behind the scenes, hidden side

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 影(かげ)が薄(うす)い: to have little presence, to be forgettable
  • 影(かげ)を潜(ひそ)める: to hide, to lie low
  • 影(かげ)も形(かたち)もない: completely gone, vanished without a trace

COMPOUNDS:

general
Added 2026.1.9 21:04 · Revised 2026.3.26 15:22
02000/02191_kage