写照 (xiě zhào) — portrayal, depiction (noun) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

写照 names the result of depicting something — a 'portrayal' or vivid reflection of a person, era, or society (真实的写照 'a true portrayal'). Unlike the verbs 描写/描绘/刻画, which describe the act of depicting, 写照 is the noun for the depiction itself.

portrayaldepiction (noun)

Examples

写照。
Zhè bù xiǎo shuō shì nà ge shè huì de zhēn shí xiě zhào.
This novel is a true portrayal of that society.
写照。
Tā de zì zhuàn chéng wéi le yí dài rén shēng huó de shēng dòng xiě zhào.
His autobiography became a vivid portrayal of a generation's life.
写照。
Zhè bù diàn yǐng shì nà ge nián dài de xiě zhào.
This film is a portrayal of that era.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

照zhàopicture

写 means depict and 照 means picture, so together they mean a depicted likeness.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寫; 写 is its simplified writing.

宀舄寫

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀mián

Sound part声符shēngfú

舄

舄xì寫xiě

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 寫 combines 宀 with 舄 for the sound; this note is about 寫, not the simplified 写.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

灬昭照

Meaning part形符xíngfú

灬Written in full as火huǒfire

Sound part声符shēngfú

昭

昭zhāo照zhào

Same sound today

照 uses 灬, a bottom form of 火 (fire), plus 昭 for the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Art & Fine Arts

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