照片
zhàopiàn
In Chinese, the word for photo is 照片 (zhàopiàn).
The term 照片 refers to the physical or digital image itself.
Meaning: to take a photograph (verb)
Which one should you use?
While 照片 is the noun for a photo, the construction 拍照 is commonly used as a verb-object to mean the act of taking photos. If you are referring to the professional art or the profession of photography, the formal term 摄影 is used instead.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In northern China, the informal term 照片儿 is commonly used to mean photo.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of taking a photograph, use the verb 拍 with the noun 照片. When counting photos, you must use the classifier 张 between the number and the noun 照片.
How do you pronounce it?
zhàopiàn
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, the act of taking a photo is sometimes linked to the concept of 'stealing' the spirit, leading some older generations to be cautious about being photographed.
- When you use the verb 拍 to mean 'to take a photo', you are technically using a word that also means 'to clap' or 'to strike'.
- The character 片 in 照片 originally referred to a thin slice or a piece of something, reflecting the thin nature of film or paper.
Examples in context
- 她把照片给他看。She showed him the photo.This sentence shows how to use 照片 to indicate someone is showing a photo.Tatoeba #1753160 by sadhen, translation #607245 by darinmex
- 这张照片有五个人。There are five people in this photo.This sentence shows how to use 照片 when describing the content of a photo.Tatoeba #3377917 by GlossaMatik, translation #3377918 by _undertoad
- 我给你寄了张照片。I sent you a photo.This sentence shows how to use 照片 in the context of sending a photo.Tatoeba #13942527 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #3821528 by CK
- 我拍了一张照片。I took a photo.
- 请给我看看你的照片。Please show me your photo.
- 你给我看看你的照片儿。Show me your photo.
- 我有一张相片。I have a photo.
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zhiqiang and Zihan are taking a selfie together.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我帮你拍一张照片吧。Wǒ bāng nǐ pāi yì zhāng zhàopiàn ba.Let me take a photo for you.
- 梓涵 Zihan好的，谢谢你，志强。Hǎo de, xièxie nǐ, Zhìqiáng.Okay, thank you, Zhiqiang.
- 志强 Zhiqiang看这里，准备拍照片了！Kàn zhèlǐ, zhǔnbèi pāi zhàopiàn le!Look here, ready to take the photo!
- 梓涵 Zihan这张照片拍得很好。Zhè zhāng zhàopiàn pāi de hěn hǎo.This photo is taken very well.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
