Meaning
摄影 refers to the art, practice, or profession of taking photographs. It encompasses both the act of photographing and photography as a field. The term literally means 'to capture shadow/image' and is used for still photography, though it can also refer to cinematography in some contexts.
Usage
This is the formal, standard term for photography. Native speakers use it when discussing photography as a hobby, profession, or art form. It commonly appears in phrases like 摄影师 (photographer), 摄影展 (photo exhibition), and 摄影作品 (photographic work). In casual conversation, people might also say 拍照 for the simple act of taking pictures.
Examples
- 01我对摄影很感兴趣，周末经常去公园拍照。, .I'm very interested in photography and often go to the park to take photos on weekends.
- 02他是一位专业摄影师，作品在国际上获过奖。, .He is a professional photographer whose works have won international awards.
Characters
Measure words
- 门一门摄影课
- 项一项摄影技术
Common collocations
- 摄影师photographer
- 摄影作品photographic work
- 摄影展photography exhibition
- 摄影爱好者photography enthusiast
Origin
The character 摄 originally meant to draw in or absorb, while 影 means shadow or image. Together they literally mean 'capturing an image,' which perfectly describes the photographic process.