撮る・録る|とるtoru[1]atamadaka (head-high)

JLPT N5approx.Common
Which spelling to use
撮る撮る is the most common written form of 撮る(とる) and the recommended default for beginners. It is written with kanji and kana.
録る録る is a less common written form of 撮る(とる). It is also written with kanji and kana, so you may encounter it as a variant.
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto take (a photograph)
    これは私の妹いもうとを撮とった写真しゃしんです。↗
    This is a picture of my sister.
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto record (audio or video); to film; to shootesp. 録る
    この番組ばんぐみ、ビデオに録とっておいて。↗
    Will you record this program on video for me?
Conjugation
Dictionary form撮る(とる)
Polite (masu)撮ります(とります)
Negative (nai)撮らない(とらない)
polite (masen)撮りません(とりません)
classical zu / nu撮らず・撮らぬ(とらず・とらぬ)
Past (ta)撮った(とった)
polite (mashita)撮りました(とりました)
Past negative (nakatta)撮らなかった(とらなかった)
polite (masen deshita)撮りませんでした(とりませんでした)
Te form撮って(とって)
Potential撮れる(とれる)
Passive撮られる(とられる)
Causative撮らせる(とらせる)
Causative passive撮らせられる・撮らされる(とらせられる・とらされる)
Conditional (ba)撮れば(とれば)
tara撮ったら(とったら)
Volitional撮ろう(とろう)
polite (mashou)撮りましょう(とりましょう)
Imperative撮れ(とれ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym撮影さつえいNeutralA Sino-Japanese word for shooting photos or film; fits formal notices and everyday speech alike, as in 「撮影禁止」「撮影する」. 「撮る」 is the more colloquial option.
  • Related記録きろくNeutralA broad term for recording things down, covering text and data as well; not specifically about taking photos.
  • Related収録しゅうろくWrittenWritten/formal prose word for recording a program or including a work in a book, as in 「番組を収録する」.
  • Related写すうつすNeutralMeans capturing people or scenery in a photo, as in 「写真を写す」, but also copying out; 「撮る」 is specifically for shooting and recording.
  • Related録するろくするFormalFormal written word meaning to record; very rare, with 「記録する」 the everyday choice.

For taking photos or video, 「撮る」 is the default. To say shooting more formally, use 「撮影」; for recording a program, 「収録」; for recording text or data, 「記録」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 写真しゃしんや映像えいぞうをカメラに記録きろくする。
  2. 音声おんせいや動画どうがを機械きかいに記録きろくする。
Kanji in this word
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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