Korean Dictionary
How to say "Photography" in Korean
“Photography” in Korean is 사진 촬영 (pronounced "Sajin Chwarlyeong").
사진 촬영
Sajin Chwarlyeong
Usage & Context
Photography is a popular hobby in Korea, especially with the rise of smartphone cameras. Koreans enjoy capturing beautiful landscapes and food.
Example Sentence
사진 촬영을 취미로 즐겨요.
I enjoy photography as a hobby.
How to use 사진 촬영 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Photography” is 사진 촬영, romanized as Sajin Chwarlyeong.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
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 촬영.
What learners usually mean by “Photography in Korean”
This query may mean photography as an art, taking photos as a hobby, or a photo shoot.
Real usage
사진 means photo, and 사진 촬영 means taking photos or photography in a practical sense. 사진술 is closer to the art or technique of photography but sounds more formal.
Avoid this mistake
Do not use 사진술 for every casual 'photography' sentence. It can sound technical or academic.
Better pattern
Use 사진 for photos, 사진 찍기 for taking photos as a hobby, 사진 촬영 for a shoot, and 사진술 for photography as a technique.
hobby
저는 사진 찍는 걸 좋아해요.
I like taking photos.
work or studio
오늘 제품 사진 촬영이 있어요.
We have a product photo shoot today.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'sah-jin chwal-yeong'. The '촬' sounds like 'chwal' with rounded lips, and '영' ends with a soft 'ng' as in 'song'.
More Example Sentences
introducing hobbies
저는 취미로 사진 촬영을 해요.
I do photography as a hobby.
at a museum
여기서 사진 촬영이 금지되어 있어요.
Photography is prohibited here.
planning a wedding
웨딩 사진 촬영은 언제예요?
When is the wedding photoshoot?
Cultural Context
사진 촬영 specifically refers to the act of taking photos in a professional or deliberate sense — for casual snapshots Koreans just say 사진 찍다. The word appears constantly on signs (사진 촬영 금지 = no photography) in museums, galleries, and concerts. Koreans are passionate about photography culture, especially 인생샷 (life shot = the perfect photo).
Editorial note
We review entries like 사진 촬영 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 촬영 금지
No photography allowed
사진 한 장 찍어 주세요.
Please take one photo for me.
사진 촬영 중입니다.
Photoshoot in progress.
Related Expressions
사진작가
sajin-jakga
photographer
카메라
kamera
camera
셀카
selka
selfie
포토그래퍼
potogeuraepeo
photographer (loanword)
More Hobbies & Leisure Words
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