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写生 (しゃせい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
sketching ; drawing from nature ; portrayal
Refers to drawing or painting a scene or object while observing it directly, often outdoors. Can also be used figuratively for vivid description in writing.
けい
を
写しゃ
生せい
し
て
いる
。
He is sketching the scenery he saw on his trip.
Kanji 写 copy, be photographed, describe Similar words スケッチ スケッチ is a more casual, often quicker drawing, while 写生 emphasizes faithful depiction from direct observation, often in an artistic or educational context.
描びょう 写しゃ 描写 is a broader term for depiction or description in both visual art and writing, not necessarily from direct observation.
Etymology Compound of 写 (copy, reflect) and 生 (life, living), literally 'copying life'. The term became common in modern Japanese art education to mean sketching from nature.
