Translation and Meaning of: 影 - kage

The Japanese word 影 [かげ] carries deep meanings and various uses in daily life in Japan. If you are learning Japanese or just curious about the language, understanding terms like this can enrich your cultural and linguistic knowledge. In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and contexts in which 影 is used, as well as practical tips for memorization.

Meaning and translation of 影 [かげ]

In its most basic form, 影 means "shadow" or "silhouette." This word is often used to describe the dark projection formed when an object blocks light. However, its meaning goes beyond the literal sense, as it can represent something abstract, such as an indirect presence or a hidden influence.

In Portuguese, the most common translation is "shadow," but depending on the context, it can also be interpreted as "reflection" or "trace." For example, in expressions like 影が薄い (かげがうすい), which means "to have a discreet presence," the word takes on a more metaphorical tone.

Origin and writing of the kanji 影

The kanji 影 is composed of two main elements: 景 (kei), which refers to a scene or landscape, and 彡 (san), a radical that represents patterns or shadows. This combination suggests the idea of a projected image, whether as a shadow or reflection. The origin of the character dates back to ancient Chinese, where it already carried similar meanings.

It's worth highlighting that 影 is not one of the most complex kanji, but its pronunciation can vary in compounds. While かげ is the most common reading, in words like 影響 (えいきょう – "influence"), it adopts an on'yomi reading. This type of variation is common in Japanese and emphasizes the importance of studying kanji in context.

Cultural use and frequency in Japanese

In Japan, 影 is not just a common word, but also a concept present in artistic expressions and folklore. It appears in traditional tales, such as those involving games of light and shadow, and even in modern narratives, like animes and mangas, where it often symbolizes the hidden side of something or someone.

In terms of frequency, 影 is not among the most commonly used words in daily life, but it is common enough to be recognized by native speakers. Its metaphorical use, especially in literature and deeper conversations, makes it a valuable word for those wishing to master the nuances of the language.

Tips to memorize 影 [かげ]

An effective way to remember 影 is to associate it with concrete images. Think of situations where the shadow is evident, like a sunny day or a pole casting its silhouette on the ground. Creating this type of visual connection helps to consolidate the meaning in memory.

Another tip is to practice with simple phrases, such as 木の影 (きのかげ – "shadow of the tree") or 影が伸びる (かげがのびる – "the shadow stretches"). Repeating these constructions aloud or writing them on flashcards can speed up learning. If you use apps like Anki, including practical examples in your deck is a great strategy.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 陰 (in) - Shadows, darkness
• かげ (kage) - Shadows, reflection
• かげり (kageri) - Shadows, darkness (suggestion of something obscured)
• えい (ei) - Brightness, light (usually used in lighting contexts)
• えいが (eiga) - Movie, cinema
• えいきょう (eikyou) - Influence (either positive or negative)
• えいよう (eiyou) - Nutrient, nutrition
• かげおとし (kageotoshi) - Publish a shadow (as a metaphor)
• かげおとす (kageotosu) - To leave someone in the background (or aside)
• かげおろす (kageorosu) - To lift the burden (to take the weight of something off someone)
• かげかざり (kagekazari) - Shadow decoration (usually at parties or venues)
• かげがら (kagegara) - Objects or shadow drawings
• かげがわ (kagegawa) - Shadow edge (areas that are in shade)
• かげぎわ (kagegiwa) - Rays of light in the shadow (interaction between light and shadow)
• かげくずし (kagekuzushi) - Destruction of the shadow (overcoming negative influences)
• かげさす (kagesasu) - Provide shade (like a shelter or protection)
• かげしょうじ (kageshouji) - Dividing the shadow (usually in artistic contexts)
• かげじ (kageji) - Element or condition that causes shade
• かげたたえる (kagetataeru) - Praise the shadows (metaphor for valuing the hidden)
• かげたたき (kagetataki) - Attack the shadows (confront hidden challenges)
• かげたち (kagetachi) - Creation of shadows (generation or formation of shadows)
• かげたどる (kagedadoru) - Follow the shadow (pursue an invisible goal)
• かげちょうじょう (kagechoujou) - Elevation of shadow (connection between influence and recognition)
• かげつくり (kagetsukuri) - Creation of a shadow (usually in design or art)
• かげつける (kagetsukeru) - To cast a shadow on something (to subtly influence something)
• かげつづき (kagetsuzuki) - Continuation of the shadow (perpetuation of influences)
• かげつづ (kagetsudu) - Persistence of shadows (difficulty in leaving influences behind)

影

Romaji: kage
Kana: かげ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: shadow; opposite side

Meaning in English: shade;shadow;other side

Definition: A dark area around an object.

Example Sentences - (影) kage

See below some example sentences:

経済の停滞は国民に大きな影響を与える。

Keizai no teitai wa kokumin ni ookina eikyou wo ataeru

The stagnation of the economy has a big impact on citizens.

Economic stagnation has a significant impact on the people.

• 経済 (keizai) - economy
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 停滞 (teitai) - stagnation
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 国民 (kokumin) - citizens of the country
• に (ni) - target particle
• 大きな (ookina) - large
• 影響 (eikyou) - influence, impact
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 与える (ataeru) - give, grant

漢語は日本語に多くの影響を与えました。

Kango wa nihongo ni ooku no eikyou wo ataemashita

Chinese words have had a great influence on Japanese.

The Chinese had a lot of influence on the Japanese.

• 漢語 (kan go) - Japanese word that means "Chinese words".
• は (wa) - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 日本語 (ni hon go) - Japanese word that means "Japanese language".
• に (ni) - grammatical particle in Japanese that indicates the relationship of direction or destination.
• 多くの (ooku no) - Expression in Japanese that means "many" or "much".
• 影響を与えました (eikyou wo ataemashita) - Japanese phrase meaning "had a lot of influence".

汚染は環境に悪影響を与えます。

Osen wa kankyou ni aku eikyou wo ataemasu

Pollution has a negative impact on the environment.

Pollution has a negative effect on the environment.

• 汚染 (ossen) - pollution
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 環境 (kankyou) - Environment
• に (ni) - target particle
• 悪影響 (akueikyou) - negative effect
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 与えます (ataemasu) - cause

欠乏は健康に悪影響を与える可能性があります。

Kekkou wa kenkou ni aku eikyou wo ataeru kanousei ga arimasu

Lack can have a negative effect on health.

Laws can have a negative effect on your health.

• 欠乏 (Kekkaku) - lack, scarcity
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 健康 (kenkou) - health
• に (ni) - target particle
• 悪影響 (aku eikyou) - negative effect, negative impact
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 与える (ataeru) - Dar, fornecer
• 可能性 (kanousei) - possibility
• が (ga) - subject particle
• あります (arimasu) - exist, have

公害は環境に悪影響を与えます。

Kougai wa kankyou ni aku eikyou wo ataemasu

Environmental pollution has a negative impact on the environment.

Pollution has a negative effect on the environment.

• 公害 (kougai) - pollution
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 環境 (kankyou) - environment
• に (ni) - target particle
• 悪影響 (aku eikyou) - negative effect
• を (wo) - object particle
• 与えます (ataemasu) - cause, have an impact

伐採は環境に悪影響を与える。

Bassai wa kankyō ni aku eikyō o ataeru

Logging has a negative impact on the environment.

The cut has a negative effect on the environment.

• 伐採 - tree cutting
• は - Topic particle
• 環境 - environment
• に - Location particle
• 悪影響 - negative effect
• を - direct object particle
• 与える - cause

不潔な人は健康に悪影響を与える可能性があります。

Fuketsu na hito wa kenkō ni aku eikyō o ataeru kanōsei ga arimasu

The dirty person can have a negative impact on health.

Dirty people may have a negative effect on health.

• 不潔な人 (fuketsu na hito) - dirty person
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 健康 (kenkou) - health
• に (ni) - target particle
• 悪影響 (aku eikyou) - negative effect
• を (wo) - object particle
• 与える (ataeru) - cause
• 可能性 (kanousei) - possibility
• が (ga) - subject particle
• あります (arimasu) - exists

この問題は重大な影響を与える可能性がある。

Kono mondai wa juudai na eikyou wo ataeru kanousei ga aru

This issue has the potential to have a significant impact.

This issue can have a significant impact.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 問題 - noun meaning "problem"
• は - topic particle that indicates that what follows is the subject of the sentence
• 重大な - adjective that means "serious" or "severe"
• 影響 - noun that means "influence" or "impact"
• を - object particle that indicates the target of the action
• 与える - verb meaning "to give" or "to grant"
• 可能性 - noun meaning "possibility"
• が - subject particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• ある - verb meaning "to exist" or "to have"

ストレスは健康に悪影響を与える可能性があります。

Sutoresu wa kenkō ni aku eikyō o ataeru kanōsei ga arimasu

Stress can have a negative impact on health.

Stress can have a negative effect on your health.

• ストレス - Japanese word meaning "stress"
• は - Particle in Japanese that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "stress"
• 健康 - Word in Japanese that means "health"
• に - Particle in Japanese that indicates the relationship between "stress" and "health", in this case, "affects health"
• 悪影響 - Japanese word meaning "negative effect"
• を - particle in Japanese that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "negative effect"
• 与える - Japanese verb that means "to cause"
• 可能性 - Word in Japanese that means "possibility"
• が - particle in Japanese that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "possibility"
• あります - Verb in Japanese that means "to exist", in this case, "there is a possibility"
• . - period to indicate the end of the sentence

プラスチックは環境に悪影響を与えることがあります。

Purasuchikku wa kankyō ni aku eikyō o ataeru koto ga arimasu

Plastic can have a negative impact on the environment.

Plastic can have a negative effect on the environment.

• プラスチック - Word in Japanese that means "plastic"
• は - particle in Japanese that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 環境 - Japanese word meaning "environment"
• に - particle in Japanese that indicates the relationship of something with something else
• 悪影響 - Japanese word meaning "negative effect"
• を - particle in Japanese that indicates the object of the sentence
• 与える - Japanese verb that means "to cause"
• こと - noun in Japanese that means "thing"
• が - Particle in Japanese that indicates the subject of the sentence
• あります - verb in Japanese that means "to exist"