(うつ)

うつり
noun
how something looks in a photo; quality of a photograph
technology
1. how something appears in a photograph; photographic quality
The way a subject looks when captured in a photograph. Refers to whether someone or something looks good or bad in pictures.
This photo turned out well.
She just doesn't photograph well — she looks much prettier in person.
This camera has a good lens, so the photo quality is completely different.

Derived from the verb (うつ) (to be photographed). Commonly used to discuss how flattering or unflattering photos are. Very common in everyday conversation about photography and selfies.

Forms

Noun form of (うつ) (to be photographed, to appear in a photo).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • (うつ): how something looks on screen (TV, video) — different kanji for video/screen contexts
  • 写真(しゃしん)(うつ)り: specifically how one looks in photographs

Usage

The expression (うつ)いい/わるい is one of the most common ways to talk about being photogenic or not in Japanese.