1.
to be photographed, to come out (in a photo)
For a person or thing to appear in a photograph or image. Describes how well or clearly the subject is captured.
写真にきれいに写った。
It came out nicely in the photo.
暗くて顔がよく写っていない。
It was dark and the face didn't come out well.
背景に富士山が写っている。
Mt. Fuji appears in the background.
集合写真で全員がちゃんと写っているか確認した。
I checked whether everyone came out properly in the group photo.
2.
to be copied, to be reproduced
For something to be transcribed or reproduced onto paper or another surface.
古いコピー機なので、文字がきれいに写らない。
The copier is old, so the text doesn't come out clearly.
カーボン紙を使うと、下の紙にも写る。
If you use carbon paper, it copies onto the sheet underneath.
TRANSITIVITY: 自動詞 (intransitive). Pair: 写す (transitive, to copy/photograph).
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 写真に写る (appear in a photo)
- きれいに写る (come out nicely)
- よく写る (come out well)
- 写っている (is shown/captured in)
HOMOPHONES:
- 写る: to be photographed, to be copied
- 映る: to be reflected, to be projected on screen
- 移る: to move, to transfer
写る focuses on photographic and copy reproduction, while 映る is about reflections and on-screen images.