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March 24, 2026
摄影(攝影)shèyǐng(she4ying3)
摄影 (shèyǐng) refers to the art or practice of capturing images through a camera. It encompasses both photography and the filming of movies, highlighting the technical and creative aspects involved in visual storytelling.
Frequency#3840DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, photography has evolved from traditional portrait painting to modern digital photography, with events like weddings and festivals being popular subjects. The concept of capturing moments is highly valued, as seen in practices like family photo-taking during holidays.
Memory Tip
Think of 摄影 as 'shooting images.' The character 摄 (shè) resembles a camera lens capturing scenes, while 影 (yǐng) means 'shadow' or 'image,' suggesting the end result of photography. Together, they evoke the idea of capturing light and images.
Meanings of 摄影
shèyǐng(she4ying3)
1to take a photograph
2photography
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About 摄影
摄影Simplified
攝影Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3840Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 摄影
Podcast: 摄影
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AI Study Notes for 摄影
Quick Contrast
摄影 (shèyǐng) vs 拍照 (pāizhào): 选择摄影 (shèyǐng) 侧重于艺术和技术的全面实践，而拍照 (pāizhào) 更强调瞬间捕捉的行为。
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 摄影 as 'shooting images.' The character 摄 (shè) resembles a camera lens capturing scenes, while 影 (yǐng) means 'shadow' or 'image,' suggesting the end result of photography. Together, they evoke the idea of capturing light and images.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 摄影; the first character is pronounced with a falling tone (shè), while the second has a rising tone (yǐng). Common collocations include 摄影师 (shèyǐngshī - photographer) and 摄影作品 (shèyǐng zuòpǐn - photographic works). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words related to other visual arts.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 摄影 connects with other vocabulary related to art and media, such as 画画 (huàhuà - to draw) and 电影 (diànyǐng - movie). Focus on practicing the tones and using the word in context to describe personal photography experiences.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, photography has evolved from traditional portrait painting to modern digital photography, with events like weddings and festivals being popular subjects. The concept of capturing moments is highly valued, as seen in practices like family photo-taking during holidays.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 摄影 with 拍照. For example, saying '我喜欢摄影' (I like to take photos) is correct, but saying '我喜欢拍照摄影' is incorrect and redundant. Stick to either 摄影 or 拍照 based on the context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 摄影
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Grammar Patterns of 摄影
摄影 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.
The photographers drew back to let us view the body.
10
那家报纸的一名摄影师正往相机里装胶卷。
nà jiā bào zhǐ de yī míng shè yǐng shī zhèng wǎng xiāng jī lǐ zhuāng jiāo juàn。
A photographer from the newspaper was loading his camera with film.
Cultural Notes for 摄影
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, photography has evolved from traditional portrait painting to modern digital photography, with events like weddings and festivals being popular subjects. The concept of capturing moments is highly valued, as seen in practices like family photo-taking during holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions about 摄影
摄影 (shèyǐng) refers to photography as an art form, while 拍照 (pāizhào) simply means to take a photo, often in a more casual context.
Yes, 摄影 can refer to both photography and filming, making it suitable for discussing both still images and moving pictures.
A common term is 摄影师 (shèyǐngshī), which combines 摄影 with the word for 'master' or 'teacher' (师).
