快照 (kuài zhào) — snapshot; candid photo | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A casual, candid photo — not a posed portrait, but a quick shot like a 'snapshot.' Often implies a single still frame, and in computing also means a data snapshot (a point-in-time copy of a system).

noun

snapshotcandid photo

Measure word · 张

Examples

快照。
Zhè zhāng kuài zhào shì wǒ zài xué xiào pāi de.
This snapshot was taken by me at school.
快照。
Tā xǐ huan yòng zhào xiàng jī pāi kuài zhào.
He likes to take snapshots with a camera.
快照。
Wǒ zài nà zhāng kuài zhào lǐ xiào dé hěn kāi xīn.
I am laughing happily in that snapshot.

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.

快 (quick) specifies 照 (photo), giving a snapshot.

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.

忄夬快

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīn

Sound part声符shēngfú

夬

夬guài快kuài

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

快 pairs the left part 忄 (full form 心, the heart) with the right part 夬, which gives the sound.

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

Photography & Design

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