写
Copy
| on’yomi | kun’yomi | Radicals |
|---|---|---|
| しゃ | うつ.す, うつ.る | 冖 +  + 一 |
Meaning: Copy
The beggar is in an enclosure, and you’ve trapped his feet in the ground. What diabolical scheme are you planning with this poor beggar you trapped? Turns out, you’re planning to copy him to have your own version of thim.
You can imagine the whole story – him walking along, you setting a trap… and then whamo! You catch him. Then, come up with some crazy way / invention you’re going to copy him. Are you cloning? Are you just taking his skin? Up to you – just make sure you make it ridiculous enough to remember.
Reading: しゃ
To remember the reading しゃ, we use the word “shadow.” – You use your device, and begin to copy the beggar. He screams, and something goes wrong. You actually just tear his shadow off his body, copying that and nothing else.
Vocabulary
Learn these two vocab meanings now (and their reading if you’re able).
a 写す（うつす）＝ To Copy
- Meaning: Same as the kanji, but verb form.
- Reading: You know the sound beatboxers make? うつうつうつうつ… Think of it like that. All of them are copying each other with the same sound. Uts uts uts uts.
a 写る（うつる）＝ To Be Photographed
- Meaning: This is really similar to 写す, except you’re being photographed. If you think about it, a photograph is a copy too.
- Reading: You have to differentiate the す and the る, but once you do, you’ll know both of these words’ meanings.