How to say "picture" in Japanese

• 絵えJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounCovers 'picture' as artwork: a drawing, painting or sketch made by hand. Use it for pictures people draw or paint, such as a child's drawing or a landscape painting.
  あの絵えを壁かべに掛かけなさい。↗

  Hang that picture on the wall.
• 写真しゃしんJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThis is the word for photographs — a picture taken with a camera. When English 'picture' means a photo of a person, place or event, this is the word you want.
  あなたに何枚なんまいかの写真しゃしんを見みせましょう。↗

  I will show you some pictures.
• 映像えいぞうJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounRefers to images on a screen, such as the picture on a TV. Use it when 'picture' means what appears on a display — video imagery — rather than a photograph or a drawing.
  その映像えいぞうはピントがあっていない。↗

  The image is not in focus.
• 画像がぞうCommon
  nounUsed for images, especially digital ones: a picture stored or displayed on a computer or phone. When 'picture' means an image file or on-screen graphic, this is the word.
  テレビの画像がぞうはぼやけて見みえた。↗

  The TV picture was blurred.
• 図ずJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)Really a diagram, figure or technical drawing; as a plain 'picture' it is seldom the word you want. It fits labeled figures in textbooks and manuals, while artwork takes 絵.
  図ずで説明せつめいしましょう。↗

  Let me explain it with a diagram.

Choose 絵 for drawn or painted pictures, 写真 for photographs, 映像 for pictures on a screen such as TV, 画像 for digital images, and 図 for diagrams and figures.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 絵えpicture
• 写真しゃしんphotograph
• 映像えいぞうimage (on a screen)
• 画像がぞうimage
• 図ずdrawing
• イラストillustration
• ピクチャーpicture
• 絵画かいがpainting
• 思い描くおもいえがくto imagine
• 肖像しょうぞうportrait
• 挿絵さしえillustration (in a book, newspaper, etc.)
• 図画ずがdrawing
• 像ぞうimage
• 目に浮かぶめにうかぶto picture
• 人物像じんぶつぞうstatue
• 描像びょうぞうdescription
• 表示画像ひょうじがぞうdisplay image
• 図絵ずえdrawing
• 画面がめんimage (on a screen)
• 姿すがたstate
• 丹青たんせいpainting