Japanese symbol for “photograph”
写真
しゃしん
Romaji: shashin
photograph; photo; picture; photography
In Japanese, photograph is 写真, read しゃしん (shashin).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n photograph; photo; picture; photography
- n moving picture; movie
Written forms: 写真、寫眞、寫真、冩眞. Readings: しゃしん.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “photograph”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 実写 | じっしゃ jissha | photograph (of a real scene, event, etc.); real image; actual footage |
| 写す | うつす utsusu | to take (a photo); to photograph; to film |
| 写真を写す | しゃしんをうつす shashin'outsusu | to photograph; to take a picture |
| フォトグラフ | フォトグラフ fotogurafu | photograph |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 描写 | びょうしゃ byousha | depiction; description; portrayal |
| 写る | うつる utsuru | to be photographed; to be projected |
| 被写体 | ひしゃたい hishatai | (photographic) subject |
| 実写 | じっしゃ jissha | live action (as opposed to animation) |
| 写す | うつす utsusu | to copy; to duplicate; to reproduce |
| 真実 | しんじつ shinjitsu | truth; reality |
| 真ん中 | まんなか mannaka | middle; centre; center |
| 真相 | しんそう shinsou | truth; real situation |
See also: Chinese symbol for “photograph”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.