摄影室 (shè yǐng shì) — photographic studio, photo studio

Definition

noun
photographic studiophoto studio

Examples

  • 摄影室。
    Zhè jiā shè yǐng shì de shè bèi hěn zhuān yè.
    This photo studio has very professional equipment.
  • 摄影室。
    Wǒ men yuē hǎo míng tiān qù shè yǐng shì pāi zhèng jiàn zhào.
    We arranged to go to the studio tomorrow to take ID photos.
  • 摄影室，。
    Tā zài shè yǐng shì gōng zuò, měi tiān dōu yào gěi kè rén pāi zhào.
    He works at a photo studio and takes pictures for clients every day.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

摄影take pictures
摄shètake影yǐngimage
动宾Verb + object
室shìroom

摄影 as taking pictures and 室 as room combine to mean a room for taking pictures.

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 攝; 摄 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
聶
聶niè攝shè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 攝 combines 扌 (hand) with 聶 as a sound part; the simplified 摄 is a later shorthand.

Open 摄 →

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
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
景
景jǐng影yǐng
Same sound today

影 pairs 景, which gives the sound and also carries the idea of image, with 彡, the part that points to shadow.

Open 影 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
至
至zhì室shì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

室 puts 宀 (roof) over 至, the spot where someone stops, giving the meaning of a house or residence.

Open 室 →

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