写真

• Reading: しゃしん
• Romaji: shashin
• Kanji breakdown: 写 (sha/utsu) — copy, reflect, photograph; 真 (shin/ma) — truth, reality
• Pronunciation: /ɕa.ɕiɴ/

Meaning

Photograph; photo; picture. Used broadly for any kind of photographic image.

A common noun covering everything from printed photographs to digital images on a phone. Often paired with the verb 撮る (toru, to take) as 写真を撮る. At N5 level, learners encounter this word in contexts like travel, hobbies, and describing memories.

Examples

1. 旅行の写真を見せてください。 Please show me your travel photos.
2. 友達と写真を撮りました。 I took a photo with my friend.
3. この写真はとてもきれいですね。 This photo is really beautiful, isn't it?

Usage Guide

Context: travel, hobbies, social media

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 写 (sha, to copy/reflect) + 真 (shin, truth/reality). Literally 'copy of truth,' reflecting the idea that a photograph captures reality as it is.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal