When you want to take a picture in Chinese, you say 拍照 (pāi zhào). It's a verb, so it describes an action. Think of it like this: 拍 (pāi) means 'to take' or 'to pat,' and 照 (zhào) means 'picture' or 'photo.' So, together, it's literally 'take photo.'
You can use it simply, for example, if you see something beautiful and want to capture it. Just like in English, you 'take' a picture. It's a very common and useful phrase to know!
Examples by Level
我喜欢用手机拍照，因为很方便。
I like using my phone to take pictures, because it's very convenient.
用 (yòng) means 'to use'.
你可以帮我拍张照吗？
Can you help me take a picture?
帮 (bāng) means 'to help'. 张 (zhāng) is a measure word for flat objects like photos.
我们在这里拍照留念吧！
Let's take a picture here to remember this moment!
留念 (liúniàn) means 'to keep as a souvenir' or 'to commemorate'.
禁止拍照，请注意。
No photography allowed, please pay attention.
禁止 (jìnzhǐ) means 'to prohibit'.
她很会拍照，每次都能拍出好看的照片。
She's very good at taking pictures; every time she can take good-looking photos.
很会 (hěnhuì) means 'very good at'.
我们每年都会拍全家福。
We take a family portrait every year.
全家福 (quánjiāfú) means 'family portrait'.
游客们都在景点拍照。
Tourists are all taking pictures at the scenic spot.
景点 (jǐngdiǎn) means 'scenic spot'.
他喜欢拍风景照，而我喜欢拍人物照。
He likes to take landscape photos, while I like to take portraits.
风景照 (fēngjǐngzhào) means 'landscape photo'. 人物照 (rénwùzhào) means 'portrait'.
Grammar Patterns
Sentence Patterns
Subj. + 拍照.
我拍照. (I take pictures.)
Subj. + 拍照 + Place.
她在家拍照. (She takes pictures at home.)
Subj. + Verb + Object + 拍照.
他喜欢拍照. (He likes taking pictures.)
Subj. + 拍照 + Duration.
我们拍照拍了很久. (We took pictures for a long time.)
Subj. + 拍照 + Frequency.
她经常拍照. (She often takes pictures.)
Subj. + Verb + Object + 拍照 + Complement.
他把照片拍得很好看. (He took the pictures beautifully.)
Subj. + Verb + Object + 拍照 + Purpose.
她拍照是为了纪念. (She takes pictures for remembrance.)
Subj. + Verb + Object + 拍照 + Tool.
我用手机拍照. (I take pictures with my phone.)
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Test Yourself 18 questions
她喜欢在旅行时___。(tā xǐhuān zài lǚxíng shí ___.) (She likes to ___ when traveling.)
The sentence indicates an action done while traveling, and '拍照' (to take pictures) fits the context of documenting travel experiences.
请不要在这里___，这是禁止的。(qǐng bùyào zài zhèlǐ ___, zhè shì jìnzhǐ de.) (Please don't ___ here, it's forbidden.)
Many places prohibit taking pictures, so '拍照' (to take pictures) is the most suitable word in this context.
我用手机___。(wǒ yòng shǒujī ___.) (I ___ with my phone.)
Phones are commonly used for taking pictures, making '拍照' the correct fit.
在婚礼上，很多人喜欢___留念。(zài hūnlǐ shàng, hěnduō rén xǐhuān ___ liúniàn.) (At weddings, many people like to ___ as a souvenir.)
Taking pictures ('拍照') is a common way to commemorate special events like weddings.
他请我帮他___。(tā qǐng wǒ bāng tā ___.) (He asked me to help him ___.)
It's common to ask someone to help take a picture, especially in a group or when you want to be in the picture yourself.
这个相机可以___很清晰的照片。(zhège xiàngjī kěyǐ ___ hěn qīngxī de zhàopiàn.) (This camera can ___ very clear photos.)
Cameras are used for taking pictures, so '拍照' (to take pictures) is the correct verb here.
This sentence describes capturing the city's changes from a unique perspective, requiring the correct ordering of descriptive phrases.
This sentence emphasizes the photographer's ability to take stunning night scenes despite challenging lighting conditions, requiring careful placement of the conjunction and descriptive phrases.
This sentence explains the motivation and action of taking photos to record trip details, requiring the correct order of the causal clause and the main clause.
摄影师通过独特的视角，将大自然的壮丽景色___得淋漓尽致，每一幅作品都如同诗篇般引人入胜。
In this context, '拍摄' (pāishè) is the most appropriate verb for capturing a scene through photography, emphasizing the artistic and technical aspect of taking pictures to showcase the beauty of nature.
面对瞬息万变的社会现象，新闻记者必须具备敏锐的洞察力，才能捕捉到那些足以反映时代特征的瞬间，并以镜头将它们___，传递给公众。
'拍摄' (pāishè) is the standard and most fitting verb for a news reporter to capture and record moments with a camera, aligning with the context of journalistic photography.
在那个特殊的历史时期，许多珍贵的瞬间被幸存者用简陋的设备艰难地___下来，成为了后人了解真相的重要依据。
Here, '拍摄' (pāishè) is used to describe the action of taking pictures, emphasizing the difficulty and historical significance of documenting those moments.
为了真实记录濒危动物的生存状况，科考队员们在极端恶劣的环境下，不畏艰险，昼夜不停地进行___，积累了大量宝贵的一手资料。
'拍摄' (pāishè) is the most suitable verb when referring to the act of taking photographs or videos to document the living conditions of endangered animals, highlighting the visual recording aspect.
电影导演为了追求完美的视觉效果，对每一个镜头都精益求精，甚至不惜花费数月时间在偏远地区进行实地___，以捕捉最真实的场景。
In the context of filmmaking, '拍摄' (pāishè) specifically refers to the act of filming or shooting scenes for a movie, which fits the director's pursuit of visual perfection.
那张获奖的照片，捕捉到了小女孩在雨中奔跑的瞬间，她的纯真笑容和雨滴飞溅的画面被摄影师巧妙地___，充满了生命力。
'拍摄' (pāishè) directly translates to 'to take a picture' or 'to photograph', which is the most accurate and common verb for describing the action of a photographer creating an image, especially an award-winning one.
/ 18 correct
Perfect score!
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朝九晚五
B2From nine to five; regular working hours.
未免
B2Rather; a bit too; truly (implies something excessive).
废弃
B2To abandon; to discard; to cease to use.
恪守
B2To scrupulously observe; to strictly adhere to.
反常
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充裕
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充沛
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门禁卡
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门禁
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配件
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