Meaning and Usage
The verb 写る (うつる) primarily means "to be photographed" or "to be projected". It is used when something appears in a photo or on a screen. Additionally, it can mean "to be transmitted" or "to be transferred," such as an illness or a stain moving from one place to another.
Common Contexts
- Photography and images: When you want to say that someone or something appears in a photo or on a screen.
- Transmission: Used when something like a disease or a stain is transferred.
Collocations and Patterns
- 写る写真 (うつるしゃしん): a photo in which something is visible.
- テレビに写る (テレビにうつる): to be projected on TV.
- 病気が写る (びょうきがうつる): illness being transmitted.
Register and Nuance
写る is a neutral verb, commonly used in everyday conversation and writing. It is often contrasted with 写す (うつす), which means "to photograph" or "to copy" (an active action), whereas 写る is passive or intransitive.
Common Learner Mistake
Confusing 写る (うつる, to be photographed) with 写す (うつす, to photograph). Remember, 写る is intransitive and describes the subject appearing or being captured, while 写す is transitive and describes the act of capturing or copying.