Korean Dictionary
How to say "Take a photo" in Korean
“Take a photo” in Korean is 사진 찍다 (pronounced "Sajin jikda").
사진 찍다
Sajin jikda
Usage & Context
Taking photos at tourist sites. 사진 찍어도 돼요? (May I take a photo?) is important to ask in some places. 같이 사진 찍어요 (Let's take a photo together) is commonly said to strangers at popular spots. Selfie culture (셀카) is huge in Korea.
Example Sentence
여기서 사진 찍어도 돼요?
May I take a photo here?
How to use 사진 찍다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Take a photo” is 사진 찍다, romanized as Sajin jikda.
Usage tip
Pair this travel word with polite request endings like -요 so it works in hotels, stations, taxis, and shops.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 사진 찍다.
Pronunciation Guide
For '사진' (sajin), 'Sa' sounds like 'sah' in 'sahara', and 'jin' sounds like 'jean' in 'jeans'. For '찍다' (jjikda), 'Jjik' sounds like 'jeek' in 'jeep' but with a tense, sharp 'jj' sound, almost like 'chick' but with a 'j'. 'Da' sounds like 'dah' in 'dah-ling'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
사진 찍습니다
Sajin jjikseumnida
This is the formal declarative form of the verb phrase, used in very polite or official contexts.
Casual (반말)
사진 찍어
Sajin jjigeo
This is the casual form, used with close friends or people younger than you.
More Example Sentences
Politely asking for permission to take a picture in a public or private space.
여기서 사진 찍어도 돼요?
May I take a photo here?
Suggesting a group photo with friends or new acquaintances.
우리 같이 사진 찍을까요?
Shall we take a photo together?
Expressing admiration for a view and the compulsion to photograph it.
이 풍경이 너무 예뻐서 사진을 안 찍을 수가 없었어요.
This scenery was so beautiful, I couldn't help but take a photo.
Cultural Context
Selfie culture ('셀카' - selka) is huge in Korea, and people often take '인생샷' (insaengsyat), meaning a 'life shot' or a perfect photo. Koreans are generally very open to taking photos with or for tourists. However, at certain cultural sites like temples or specific museum exhibits, photography might be restricted, so it's always good to ask '사진 찍어도 돼요?' if unsure. Don't be shy to ask a friendly local to take a picture for you!
Editorial note
We review entries like 사진 찍다 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
사진 찍어 주세요.
Please take a photo for me.
같이 사진 찍어요!
Let's take a photo together!
사진 잘 나왔다!
The photo turned out well!
Related Expressions
사진
Sajin
Photo
셀카
Selka
Selfie
동영상 찍다
Dongyeongsang jjikda
To shoot a video
기념사진
Ginyeomsajin
Commemorative photo
More Travel Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Take a photo and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
