写 means “copy”

うつす · utsusu

Also: be photographed, describe

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

うつす, うつる, うつ-, うつし

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シャ, ジャ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 3 · 5 strokes

The story

A magpie under a roof, the bird said to mimic whatever it hears: copying as a household art. Temple monks copied sutras stroke by stroke for a thousand years before the camera made it instant.

Used in 写真 (shashin, photograph), 写す (utsusu, to copy), and 写生 (shasei, sketching from life)

More from Everyday Japan

• 便 convenience
• 服 clothing
• 曜 day of week
• 飯 meal
• 洗 wash
• 同 same
• 円 circle
• 度 degrees
• 午 noon
• 名 name
• 物 thing
• 電 electricity

Learn 写 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.