顕微鏡
けんびきょう microscope
Why it means this
顕 (make visible) + 微 (the minute) + 鏡 (a lens) — 'a lens that makes the tiny visible'; a microscope.
Breakdown
- 顕 あきらか appear, existing
- 微 ビ delicate, minuteness, insignificance
- 鏡 かがみ mirror, speculum, barrel-head
Each character links to its full entry — origin story, stroke order, and readings.