ChiramiN4 kanji · 5 strokes
写 means copy, photograph
冖 a cover
写Memory trick
A sheet laid over a picture to trace it: to copy, to photograph.
Memory trick: a picture to help you remember the kanji, not its history.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- copy, be photographed, describe
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 5
- School grade
- Grade 3 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) うつす utsusu
うつす (utsusu) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
Other Japanese readings: うつる utsuru, うつし utsushi
From Chinese (onyomi) シャ sha
シャ (sha) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Other readings from Chinese: ジャ ja
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
写真 しゃしん · shashin
photograph, photo
Built from
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
Quick check
What does 写 mean?
Right: 写 means copy, photograph.Not quite: 写 means copy, photograph.In 写真, which reading does 写 use?
Right. 写真 is read しゃしん (shashin): 写 takes シャ, its reading from Chinese.Not quite. 写真 is read しゃしん (shashin): 写 takes シャ, its reading from Chinese.