Onyomi: シャ, ジャ · Kunyomi: うつ-, うつ.し, うつ.す, うつ.る · Meanings: be photographed, copy, describe
Kanji for be photographed, copy, describe
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The kanji 写 combines the “roof” radical (宀) with the component for “shoot” or “copy,” symbolizing capturing something under a shelter or carefully reproducing it. In ancient times, it represented drawing or copying images. 写 came to mean copy, photograph, or depict, capturing the idea of reproducing or showing something accurately.
A roof over a scene being copied — 写 means to copy, photograph, or depict.
Imagine taking a picture or carefully copying a scene under a roof — that’s 写, the kanji for copying or photographing.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 写真 | しゃしん | photograph, photo, picture, photography | common JLPT-N5 Noun |
| 写す | うつす | to copy, to duplicate, to reproduce, to trace, to transcribe | common JLPT-N4 Godan verb with 'su' ending, Transitive verb |
| 写る | うつる | to be photographed, to be projected | common JLPT-N2 Godan verb with 'ru' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 写し | うつし | copy, duplicate, facsimile, transcript | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 写真家 | しゃしんか | photographer | common Noun |
| 写本 | しゃほん | manuscript (book), written copy of a book, codex, transcription, copying | Noun |
| 映し出す | うつしだす | to project, to show (on a screen), to reflect (of a mirror, lake, etc.) | common Godan verb with 'su' ending, Transitive verb |
| 写り | うつり | projection, reflection, image, reception (e.g. TV), picture quality | Noun, Noun, used as a suffix |
| 写真屋 | しゃしんや | photo studio, photographer | Noun |
| 写生 | しゃせい | sketching, drawing from nature, portrayal, description | common JLPT-N2 Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 写真写り | しゃしんうつり | photogenicity | Noun |
| 写真画 | しゃしんが | photographic image, photograph of a painting or resembling a painting | Noun |
| 写真帳 | しゃしんちょう | photograph album | Noun |
| 写真集 | しゃしんしゅう | photo book (esp. one featuring photos of female celebrities, models), photobook | common Noun |
| 写経 | しゃきょう | hand-copied sutras, copying of a sutra | Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb, Intransitive verb |