copy · photograph

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 写 is used for copying or photographing. 写す is read うつす, and 写る is read うつる.
• Basic usage: 写す describes copying a sentence into a notebook or capturing a subject in a photograph; 写真(しゃしん) means a photograph.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Taking a picture versus appearing in it
  • 花を写真に写す describes capturing flowers in a photograph. 写る is intransitive and describes the subject appearing in the picture; 写っている describes its presence in the photograph.
  • Although it may be translated as being photographed, 写る itself is not the passive form of 写す.