The word "照镜子" is formed by combining the verb 照, meaning "to shine upon" or "to reflect", with the noun 镜子, meaning "mirror". 镜 signifies a mirror, historically associated with metal surfaces, and 子 acts as a nominal suffix. Together, they create a verb-object construction that literally means "to shine a mirror upon" and conventionally refers to the act of looking at one's reflection in a mirror.