写真
shashin[ɕa̠ɕĩɴ]
The Japanese word for "picture" (in the sense of a photograph) is 写真 (shashin).
写真 refers specifically to a photograph. When you want to say "to take a photo," you use the phrase 写真を撮る.
Meaning: photograph (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use 写真 specifically for photographs. In contrast, use 絵 (e) when referring to a drawing, painting or illustration. You may also encounter the word 画像 (gazō), which is written using the kanji 画像.
How do you pronounce it?
shashin
Did you know?
- The kanji in 写真 literally mean 'copying' and 'truth'. This reflects the early belief that photography was a way to capture an objective, truthful replica of reality.
- While 写真 refers to the photo itself, the verb 撮る (toru) used to take a photo is the same verb used for 'plucking' a fruit or 'catching' a fish.
- In Japan, the phrase 写真に入らない (shashin ni hairanai) is used to describe someone who is 'not photogenic' or literally does not 'enter' the photo well.
Examples in context
- 写真見せて。Show me the picture.This sentence is useful for asking someone to show you the 写真.Tatoeba #2231002 by tommy_san, translation #2231007 by CK
- 写真は見た？Did you see the picture?This sentence is useful for asking if someone saw the 写真.Tatoeba #10630203 by small_snow, translation #3096139 by CK
- 写真を撮ろう。Let's take a picture.This sentence is useful for suggesting that you take a 写真.Tatoeba #149245 by bunbuku, translation #265313 by CK
- 町の美しい風景を写真に撮りました。I took a picture of the beautiful scenery in the town.
- 新しいゲームのキャラクターの画像を見せてくれませんか？Could you show me a picture of the new game character?
- 221 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are looking through a photo album together.
- 蓮 Renこの写真は誰の写真？Kono shashin wa dare no shashin?Whose photograph is this?
- 美咲 Misakiそれは私の家族の写真だよ。Sore wa watashi no kazoku no shashin dayo.That is a photograph of my family.
- 蓮 Renとても素敵な写真だね。Totemo suteki na shashin dane.It's a very lovely photograph.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとう、蓮。Arigato, Ren.Thank you, Ren.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “picture” translations and entries 写真, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
