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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'to photograph' with 照 (zhào)

    Actions & Events

    Structure

    照 + Noun / 拍照

    Explanation

    照 (zhào) can mean "to photograph" or "to take a picture," and also appears in the noun 照片 (photograph). In casual speech, 照 is sometimes used as a short form of 照片 when referring to a photo. It also carries other meanings such as "to shine" or "according to."

    Examples

    • 帮我照一张照片吧，这里的风景太美了。

      bāng wǒ zhào yī zhāng zhàopiàn ba, zhèlǐ de fēngjǐng tài měi le.

      Please take a photo for me; the scenery here is so beautiful.

    • 她翻出了一张小时候的旧照，笑了起来。

      tā fānchū le yī zhāng xiǎoshíhou de jiù zhào, xiào le qǐlái.

      She dug out an old photo from her childhood and smiled.

    • 我们全家一起照了一张合影。

      Wǒmen quánjiā yìqǐ zhào le yì zhāng héyǐng.

      Our whole family took a group photo together.

    Expressing 'to photograph' with 照 (zhào) | Chinese Grammar