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拍摄 (pāi shè) — to take (a photo); to shoot (a film or video)

Definition

拍摄 covers both photos and film/video in one word, more formal and broader than 拍照 (photos only) or 照相 (photos only). Closer to 摄影 but commonly used for video work too.

verb
to take (a photo)to shoot (a film or video)

Examples

  • 拍摄。
    Wǒ men dǎ suàn zài gōng yuán lǐ pāi shè yì zǔ zhào piàn.
    We plan to take a set of photos in the park.
  • 拍摄。
    Dǎo yǎn zhèng zài gōng zuò shì lǐ pāi shè xīn diàn yǐng.
    The director is shooting a new movie in the studio.
  • 拍摄。
    Tā yòng shǒu jī pāi shè le yí duàn yǒu qù de shì pín.
    He recorded an interesting video with his phone.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

拍pāishoot
摄shècapture

拍 and 摄 both mean to capture images, together forming to shoot.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
白
白bái拍pāi
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拍 puts 手 (hand) beside 白, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 拍 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5Film & TheaterPhotography & Design2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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