Japanese word

肖像

Pronunciation

Romajishōzō

Meaning

  • nounportrait

Example

その画家は王の肖像を描きました。so no ga ka wa ō no shō zō o ega ki ma shi ta

The artist painted the king's portrait.

Illustration for 肖像 (portrait)

More examples

美術館では、有名な画家が描いた肖像を展示しています。bi jutsu kan de wa yū mei na ga ka ga ega i ta shō zō o ten ji shi te i ma su

The museum is displaying a portrait painted by a famous artist.

Core concept

Presents a person's visible features in a form that preserves or conveys the person's identity.

Common phrases

  • 肖像を描くshō zō o ega ku

    paint a portrait

  • 肖像を展示するshō zō o ten ji su ru

    display a portrait

Similar words

肖像画shōzōga: A painting made to preserve or convey the identity of a particular person.
肖像写真shōzōshashin: A photograph made to represent a person's appearance and identity.
似顔絵nigaoe: A drawing or painting of a person's face that highlights recognizable features.

Definition in Japanese

特定の人の顔や姿を描いたり写したりしたもの。toku tei no hito no kao ya sugata o ega i ta ri utsu shi ta ri shi ta mo no

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 肖像 (shōzō) joins 肖 (shō, "resemble") with 像 (zō, "image or figure"), referring to an image made to resemble someone.

Usage tips

  • A 肖像 (shōzō) may appear in a museum, a family album, or a public building, showing that the word covers both private and public representations.

Other meanings

  • likenessnoun

Word lists with this word