写真 (shashin) means “photo” | MotiTan Japanese Dictionary

More examples

学校で写真を撮ります。gak kō de sha shin o to ri ma su

I take photos at school.

旅行でたくさんの写真を撮りました。ryo kō de ta ku sa n no sha shin o to ri ma shi ta

I took many photos on my trip.

It centers on preserving a view of the world, either as a captured picture or as the practice of making such pictures.

フォトfoto: A camera-made picture, often used in titles, advertisements, and casual speech.

カメラなどで対象を写し取った画像や印刷物。ka me ra na do de tai shō o utsu shi to tta ga zō ya in satsu butsu

The Sino-Japanese compound 写真 (shashin) combines 写 (sha, "copy") and 真 (shin, "truth"), reflecting the idea of copying reality.

In Japan, 写真 (shashin) for an ID card is called 証明写真 (shōmei shashin), and automated booths for making it are often found near train stations.