Dark shape made by an object blocking light.
Shadow, reflection, image, trace, or film. Sunlit scenery (景) with three rays (彡) cast onto the ground.
影
Common Usage & Traps
- 电影 — movie
- 影子 — shadow
- 看电影 — watch a movie
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看影看电影影 alone does not mean 'movie'; the full word is 电影.
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一个影一个影子影 is a bound character; use 影子 for the standalone noun 'shadow'.
Why does 影 look like 景 but mean 'shadow'?
影 and 景 are visually similar, but 影 means 'shadow' and 景 means 'scenery'.
景 and 影 share the same top-left and bottom components, but 影 adds 彡 on the right. In modern Mandarin, 景 means 'scenery' or 'view', while 影 means 'shadow' or 'image'. They are different characters with different meanings, so do not mix them up.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | 影 = shadow; 景 = scenery | Confusing 影 with 景 in meaning |
| Common word | 电影 (movie), 影子 (shadow) | 景子 (not a word) |
| Usage | 影 is bound; use 影子 alone | Using 影 by itself as a noun |
Can I say 影 by itself to mean 'shadow'?
No, 影 is a bound character; say 影子 for a standalone shadow.
In modern Mandarin, 影 rarely stands alone as a noun. It appears in compounds like 电影 (movie) or 影子 (shadow). If you want to talk about a shadow on its own, use 影子.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone noun | 影子 | 影 |
| In compounds | 电影, 影子 | 影 alone |
| Example | 我看到一个影子。 | 我看到一个影。 |
Appears in Stories 7 stories
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
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我在等朋友看 电影 。
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最近我每周都游两三次，但看 电影 是我最大的爱好！
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😄Ａ：你喜欢看老 电影 还是新 电影 ？
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我最喜欢看黑白老 电影 。
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今天我们就要看一个外国黑白老 电影 。
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有的时候，老 电影 比现在的新 电影 有意思。
Follow a day from waking at six-thirty to coming home at eight, then leap across days, months, and years. This simple story helps you practice speaking about routines and life changes with clear time words.
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后天有个好 电影 。
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今天去了 电影院 。
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
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科学家说，受 影响 的不只是森林里的动物和植物，还有附近的城市。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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车窗外路灯闪过， 光影 在他脸上切来切去。
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
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这是 电影院 ！
This short poem plays with words that sound alike, comparing things that are good to watch, read, hear, or taste. Perfect for practicing basic adjectives like 好 and 真.
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好 电影 好看，好书不好看。
Ever noticed how similar Chinese words can be? This rhyme plays with place names and homophones, from schools to hotels, even throwing in Samsung's origin. A lighthearted way to boost your word power.
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学院有院子， 影院 没院子，医院是院子？
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
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