How to say "reflect" in Japanese

• 映すうつすJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers reflect in the visual sense: a mirror reflects an image, and it is also the verb for projecting a picture and casting a shadow. It is the plainer, more general image verb.
  一いち本ぽんの高たかい木きが水面すいめんに長ながい影かげを映うつしている。↗

  A tall tree projects its long shadow on the water.
• 映し出すうつしだすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbAlso covers the visual sense, but stresses the image coming forth and being displayed: a mirror or lake brings a reflection into view, a screen shows a picture.
  月つきが湖みずうみに映し出うつしだされていた。↗

  The moon was reflected in the lake.
• 考えるかんがえるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers reflect in the mental sense: to think something over, ponder, or contemplate. Use it whenever reflect (on) means thinking about a matter, such as a plan or a problem.
  あなたは家族かぞくの事ことを考かんがえるべきです。↗

  You must think of your family.
• 振り返るふりかえるCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers reflect on in the retrospective sense: thinking back over past events or experiences. Choose it when reflecting means looking back on what has happened rather than pondering a current matter.
  今いままでの人生じんせいを振り返ふりかえって考かんがえてみた後あと、私は目標もくひょうを変かえる必要ひつようがあると判断はんだんした。↗

  After reflecting on my life up to now, I decided that I needed to change my goals.

For the image sense of reflect use 「映す」, or 「映し出す」 to stress the image appearing; for the thinking sense use 「考える」, and for looking back on the past use 「振り返る」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 映すうつすto project
• 映し出すうつしだすto project
• 考えるかんがえるto think (about, of)
• 照り返すてりかえすto reflect
• リフレクトreflect
• 思い巡らすおもいめぐらすto think over
• 思いを巡らすおもいをめぐらすto contemplate
• 思いを巡らせるおもいをめぐらせるto contemplate
• 振り返るふりかえるto think back (on)
• 頭を回らすこうべをめぐらすto think back (on)