照片

• Pinyin: zhào piàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 照 = 日 (sun) + 召 (summon) + 灬 (fire); 片 = pictograph of a thin slice

Meaning

Photograph; photo. A printed or digital image captured by a camera.

The most common word for 'photograph' in Chinese. Used for both physical prints and digital photos. 照 alone can also mean photo informally. Related words include 拍照 (to take a photo) and 相片 (a slightly more formal synonym).

Examples

1. 这张照片是我们去年拍的。 This photo was taken by us last year.
2. 她手机里有很多旅行照片。 She has a lot of travel photos on her phone.
3. 请帮我们拍一张照片。 Please take a photo for us.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, social

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 我想看看你的照片。(I want to see your photos.)
• 这张照片拍得真好看。(This photo turned out really nice.)

Don't Say

• 我画了一张照片。(Don't use 画 (draw) with 照片 — photos are taken (拍), not drawn. Say 拍了一张照片.)

Origin & History

Compound of 照 (to illuminate, to photograph) and 片 (piece/slice), literally 'a photographed piece.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal