自撮り
jidori[d͡ʑido̞ɾʲi]
The Japanese word for selfie is 自撮り (jidori). Wiktionary also lists 自分撮り (jibundori) and セルフィー (serufī).
Meaning: photographic self-portrait (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 自撮り | jidori | [d͡ʑido̞ɾʲi] (narrow) |
| 自分撮り | jibundori | |
| セルフィー | serufī | [se̞ɾɯ̟ɸʲiː] (narrow) |
This noun refers to a photographic self-portrait.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 自撮り is a compound consisting of 自 (ji), meaning 'self' and 撮り (tori), which is the noun form of the verb meaning to take (a photo).
Which one should you use?
While セルフィー (serufī) is a direct loanword from English, 自撮り (jidori) is the much more common and natural term used by Japanese speakers in daily conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can also add 中 (chū) to the end of the word to create 自撮り中, which means one is currently in the middle of taking a selfie.
How do you pronounce it?
jidori
Did you know?
- In Japan, the 'peace sign' is the most iconic gesture used in 自撮り and is often accompanied by a slight tilt of the head.
- While 自撮り is common, some people use the term 自撮り界隈 (jidori kaiwai) to describe a specific online subculture of youth who post heavily edited selfies to create a curated aesthetic.
- The use of 自撮り grew alongside 'purikura' machines, which are photo booths that allow users to take and decorate self-portraits.
Examples in context
- トムはスマホで自撮りをした。Tom took a selfie with his smartphone.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the noun 自撮り with the verb 'to do' (in its past form) to describe the action of taking a selfie.Tatoeba #8621961 by small_snow, translation #7527630 by Hybrid
- きれいな景色をバックに自撮りした。Kirei na keshiki o bakku ni jidori shita.I took a selfie with the beautiful scenery in the background.
- もっとうまく自撮りができないかな。Motto umaku jidori ga dekinai kana.I wonder if I can take a better selfie.
Example conversation
Two friends are at a cafe and one wants to take a photo together.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮くん、一緒に自撮りしない？Ren-kun, issho ni jidori shinai?Ren, do you want to take a selfie together?
- 蓮 Renいいよ。カメラ、準備して。Ii yo. Kamera, junbi shite.Sure. Get the camera ready.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、チーズ！今の、すごくいい感じ！Hai, chiizu! Ima no, sugoku ii kanji!Say cheese! That one looks really good!
- 蓮 Ren本当だね。後で送ってくれる？Honto da ne. Ato de okutte kureru?You're right. Can you send it to me later?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “selfie” translations and entries 自撮り, 自分撮り, セルフィー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
