Japanese word

写る

Pronunciation

Romajiutsuru

Meaning

  • verbbe photographed

Example

この写真に家族が写っています。ko no sha shin ni ka zoku ga utsu tte i ma su

My family is in this photo.

Illustration for 写る (be photographed)

More examples

窓のそばでは、顔が明るく写ります。mado no so ba de wa kao ga aka ru ku utsu ri ma su

Faces come out brighter near the window.

Core concept

Describes a person or thing appearing as an image on a photograph, in a mirror, or on a screen rather than actively making the image.

Common phrases

  • 写真に写るsha shin ni utsu ru

    be in a photo

  • 一緒に写るis sho ni utsu ru

    be photographed together

Similar words

映るutsuru: To appear as an image on a surface such as a mirror or screen.

Definition in Japanese

写真や鏡、スクリーンなどに姿や像が現れる。sha shin ya kagami su ku rī n na do ni sugata ya zō ga arawa re ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 写る (utsuru, "to appear in an image") is the intransitive partner of 写す (utsusu, "to photograph or copy"), and both use 写 (sha, "copy or reproduce").

Usage tips

  • A person can be the subject of 写る (utsuru) even when the camera is not mentioned, because the verb focuses on appearing in the image.

Other meanings

  • be projectedverb

Related words

  • 写り方utsurikatahow one appears in a photonoun
  • 写りutsuriappearance in a photonoun

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