Meaning

Primary

To Take A Picture

Alternative

To Take A Video

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means photograph. When you make that into a verb, it becomes to take a picture. It can also mean to take a video. Basically, it's for any form of shooting you do with a camera!

Reading

とる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

To take a picture, to take a video… You "take" all these things. And how do you say "to take" in Japanese? It's 取る (とる), which happens to share a reading with this word. Different kanji but related meanings, and exactly the same reading!

Context

Context Sentences

動画を撮るとき、手ブレしないように注意してください。

When recording a video, be careful to avoid camera shake.

子供の幼稚園の卒園式で記念写真をたくさん撮りました。

I took a lot of photos at my kid's kindergarten graduation ceremony.

マイケルは自撮りを上手に撮る方法について詳しく知っているはずです。

Michael should know details about how to take selfies well.

写真を撮るために、彼は野球帽を後ろ向きに被り直した。

He put his baseball cap on backwards to take the picture.

Kanji Composition