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写真 (xiě zhēn) — (noun) portrait, photographic portrait; (noun) photography (especially artistic or professional photo shoot)

Definition

写真 (xiě zhēn) is a professional or artistic portrait/photo shoot — more posed and styled than a casual snapshot (照片). Often paired with 集 (album) or 馆 (studio).

noun
portraitphotographic portraitphotography (especially artistic or professional photo shoot)
Measure word · 张

Examples

  • 写真。
    Wǒ pāi le yì zhāng xiě zhēn.
    I took a portrait photo.
  • 写真。
    Zhè běn xiě zhēn jí hěn shòu huān yíng.
    This photo album is very popular.
  • 写真。
    Tā zài yì jiā xiě zhēn guǎn gōng zuò.
    She works at a photography studio.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

写xiěportray
真zhēntrue likeness

写 (portray) and 真 (true likeness) combine to mean a portrait.

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.

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.

Open 写 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →
Appears in
Photography & Design

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