拍照

You can use it as a standalone verb. You can also add a person in the middle. For example, 拍一张照 means "take a photo." If you want to say "take a photo of me," you say 给我拍照. It is a separable verb, which means it can split apart to hold other words. This makes it very flexible for daily conversation.

Use it whenever a camera is involved. At a restaurant when the food looks too good to eat? 拍照. Standing in front of the Great Wall? 拍照. You can use it with friends, family, or even strangers if you need them to help you snap a shot. It is perfectly safe for almost any social situation.

Don't use it if you are talking about filming a long movie. For videos, you should use 录像 or 拍视频. Also, avoid using it in very high-end art galleries where "capturing an image" might involve more technical terms like 摄影. If you are just scanning a document, use 扫描 instead of 拍照.

In China, 拍照 is a national pastime. You will see people posing with "V" signs everywhere. Food photography is also huge; people joke that the "camera eats first." Social media apps like WeChat and Douyin have made this phrase more common than ever. It is the key to sharing your life with others.

You might hear 摄影 for professional photography. Young people often say 自拍 for selfies. If someone is being a bit extra with their poses, friends might tease them about their 拍照 skills. You can also say 照相, which is slightly more old-school but means the exact same thing.