Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
照片zhàopiàn(zhao4pian4)
照片 (zhàopiàn) refers to a photograph or picture, commonly used to capture memories or moments. It is often found in both personal and professional contexts, such as family albums, social media, or portfolios.
Frequency#396DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, taking and sharing photos is an important aspect of social life, especially during festivals and family gatherings, reflecting the value placed on family and memories.
Memory Tip
Think of 照 (zhào) meaning 'to shine' or 'to illuminate' and 片 (piàn) meaning 'slice' or 'piece'. Imagine a piece of light (a photo) that captures a moment in time. The character structure also suggests a picture is a 'slice' of reality.
Meanings of 照片
zhàopiàn(zhao4pian4)
1photograph
2picture
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 照片
照片Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#396Frequency Rank
张Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 照片
Podcast: 照片
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 照片
Quick Contrast
图像 (túxiàng) vs 图片 (túpiàn) — choose 照片 for photographs specifically, while 图像 is broader, including images in various forms, and 图片 often refers to pictures in a more general sense.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 照 (zhào) meaning 'to shine' or 'to illuminate' and 片 (piàn) meaning 'slice' or 'piece'. Imagine a piece of light (a photo) that captures a moment in time. The character structure also suggests a picture is a 'slice' of reality.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 照片 is typically used in informal contexts, while more formal terms like 摄影作品 (shèyǐng zuòpǐn) might be used in artistic discussions. Common collocations include '拍照片' (take a photo) and '看照片' (look at a photo).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 照片 connects well with other vocabulary related to daily life and communication, such as 家 (home) and 朋友 (friend). Focus on practicing sentences that incorporate this word to enhance conversational skills.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, taking and sharing photos is an important aspect of social life, especially during festivals and family gatherings, reflecting the value placed on family and memories.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 照片 with the word 画 (huà), which means 'drawing' or 'painting'. For example, saying '我喜欢画' (wǒ xǐhuān huà) when they mean 'I like photos' is incorrect; they should say '我喜欢照片' (wǒ xǐhuān zhàopiàn).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 照片
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 照片 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 照片 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 照片
照片 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
你可以把这些文字直接叠印在你的一张____上。
You can superimpose the lettering directly onto one of your pictures.
Example Sentences for 照片 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你可以把这些文字直接叠印在你的一张照片上。
nǐ kě yǐ bǎ zhè xiē wén zì zhí jiē dié yìn zài nǐ de yī zhāng zhào piàn shàng。
You can superimpose the lettering directly onto one of your pictures.
2
这张令人难堪的照片是怎么落到媒体手中的？
zhè zhāng líng rén nán kān de zhào piàn shì zěn mó luò dào méi tǐ shǒu zhōng de？
How had this com-promising picture come into the possession of the press?
In Chinese culture, taking and sharing photos is an important aspect of social life, especially during festivals and family gatherings, reflecting the value placed on family and memories.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, photographs often emphasize individuality and personal expression, while in Chinese culture, the focus may be more on collective memory and family.
Frequently Asked Questions about 照片
You can say '我拍了一张照片' (wǒ pāile yī zhāng zhàopiàn).
The measure word for photos is 张 (zhāng), so you would say 一张照片 (yī zhāng zhàopiàn) for 'one photo'.
Yes, 照片 can refer to both physical and digital photographs.
