How to Say "Pictures" in Japanese

写真

shashin[ɕa̠ɕĩɴ]

The English phrase "pictures" is translated into Japanese as 写真 (shashin).

写真 refers to images captured by a camera.

What does it mean word for word?

The word 写真 is composed of the characters 写, meaning "copy" or "reproduce" and 真, meaning "truth" or "reality".

When using 写真 as the object of a verb, such as the verb for "to take" (toru), you must add the particle を (o) after it, forming 写真を.

shashin

In Japanese social etiquette, it is common to ask 写真を撮ってもいいですか ('May I take a photo?') before photographing a person, as capturing someone's image is often seen as capturing a part of their essence.
When posing for a 写真 in Japan, people often make a 'V' sign with their fingers, a gesture so ubiquitous that it is the default pose for almost every casual photograph.
The term 写真映え (shashin-bae) describes something that looks great in a photo, similar to the English term 'instagrammable'.

写真送ってよ。
Send me some pictures.
This sentence is useful for requesting that someone send you 写真.
Tatoeba #10161023 by small_snow, translation #10160948 by CK
写真撮ってるの？
Are you taking pictures?
This sentence is useful for asking if someone is currently taking 写真.
Tatoeba #8767311 by bunbuku, translation #4502493 by CK
私の趣味は写真です。
My hobby is taking pictures.
This sentence is useful for stating that your hobby is taking 写真.
Tatoeba #2237943 by tommy_san, translation #251144 by CK
私は写真を撮るのが好きです。
I like taking pictures.
彼の部屋には美しい写真がたくさんあります。
His room is filled with beautiful pictures.
写真を見ると、過去の思い出がよみがえります。
Looking at pictures brings back memories of the past.
101 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are looking at a smartphone together.

大翔 Hiroto

美咲、この写真見て。
Misaki, kono shashin mite.
Misaki, look at this picture.
美咲 Misaki

わあ、大翔、すごく上手だね！
Waa, Hiroto, sugoku umai dane!
Wow, Hiroto, you are really good!
大翔 Hiroto

新しいカメラで撮った写真だよ。
Atarashii kamera de totta shashin dayo.
It's a picture I took with my new camera.
美咲 Misaki

もっとたくさん見せて！
Motto takusan misete!
Show me more!

Sources

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