Readings: シャ (Onyomi), うつ.す, うつ.る (Kunyomi)
Meaning: copy, be photographed, describe
The kanji 写 is derived from the older form 寫. The top component 宀 (ukanmuri) represents a roof or house, and the lower part, though simplified, originally conveyed the idea of “to place” or “to transcribe.” The character initially depicted the act of copying or transcribing something, perhaps under a roof. This concept later extended to include the modern meaning of “to photograph” as a way of capturing or reproducing an image.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 写 has 5 strokes. Start with the roof radical (宀) with its two horizontal strokes and then the dot. Then, draw the first two strokes of the bottom part, a vertical stroke followed by a horizontal one. Finally, complete the last two strokes which are a hook and a final horizontal stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 宀 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- シャ (sha)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- うつ.す (utsu.su)
- うつ.る (utsu.ru)
Common Words Using 写
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 写真 | しゃしん | photograph |
| 描写 | びょうしゃ | depiction, description |
| 写実 | しゃじつ | realism |
| 転写 | てんしゃ | transcription |
| 複写 | ふくしゃ | copy, duplicate |
| 模写 | もしゃ | reproduction, copy |
| 写生 | しゃせい | sketching, drawing from nature |
| 写本 | しゃほん | manuscript, copy (of a book) |
| 心霊写真 | しんれいしゃしん | ghost photograph |
| 透写 | とうしゃ | tracing |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 写す | うつす | to copy, to transcribe, to photograph |
| 写る | うつる | to be photographed, to be reflected, to be projected |
| 書き写す | かきうつす | to copy down |
| 映し出す | うつしだす | to project, to throw a beam of light |
| 写し | うつし | copy, duplicate |
| 取り写す | とりうつす | to transcribe, to make a copy |
| 写し絵 | うつしえ | tracing picture |
| 写し取る | うつしとる | to copy, to transcribe |
| 写し書き | うつしがき | transcription, copying by hand |
| 撮り写す | とりうつす | to photograph a copy, to transcribe by taking a picture |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 写真を撮ってください。
Kana: しゃしんを とって ください。
Romaji: Shashin o totte kudasai.
English: Please take a picture.
Japanese: この文章をノートに写してください。
Kana: この ぶんしょうを ノートに うつして ください。
Romaji: Kono bunshou o nooto ni utsushite kudasai.
English: Please copy this text into your notebook.
Japanese: 鏡に顔が写っています。
Kana: かがみに かおが うつって います。
Romaji: Kagami ni kao ga utsutte imasu.
English: My face is reflected in the mirror.
Japanese: 彼の描写はとても詳細だった。
Kana: かれの びょうしゃは とても しょうさい だった。
Romaji: Kare no byousha wa totemo shousai datta.
English: His description was very detailed.
Japanese: この絵は写真のように写実的だ。
Kana: この えは しゃしんのように しゃじつてき だ。
Romaji: Kono e wa shashin no you ni shajitsuteki da.
English: This painting is as realistic as a photograph.
Japanese: 古い書類を複写した。
Kana: ふるい しょるいを ふくしゃ した。
Romaji: Furui shorui o fukusha shita.
English: I made a copy of the old document.
Japanese: カメラのレンズに指が写り込んでしまった。
Kana: カメラの レンズに ゆびが うつりこんで しまった。
Romaji: Kamera no renzu ni yubi ga utsurikonde shimatta.
English: My finger got into the camera lens.
Japanese: 彼は風景を写生している。
Kana: かれは ふうけいを しゃせい して いる。
Romaji: Kare wa fuukei o shasei shite iru.
English: He is sketching the scenery.
Japanese: 歴史的な写本を発見した。
Kana: れきしてきな しゃほんを はっけん した。
Romaji: Rekishiteki na shahon o hakken shita.
English: They discovered a historical manuscript.
Japanese: テレビに花火が大きく写っていた。
Kana: テレビに はなびが おおきく うつって いた。
Romaji: Terebi ni hanabi ga ookiku utsutte ita.
English: The fireworks were largely shown on TV.
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