映

Phono-semantic compound:

日 (해 일, “sun, light”) — semantic, indicating light or illumination.

央 (가운데 앙, “center, core”) — phonetic, lending the sound 영 / yìng.

Thus the character means “light shining upon something”, later extended to reflection, projection, and figurative “display.”

The semantic core is light + central focus → “to cast light on, to reflect.”

映像 (영상) — image, reflection, video

反映 (반영) — reflection, to mirror

映出 (영출) — to project (an image, light)

映照 (영조) — to shine upon

暎 — used as an alternate form, also found in names.

𪰔 (⿱日央) — an archaic variant form with a vertical layout.