toru-vs-toru

Japanese has many verbs that sound identical but are written with different kanji — and 取る (toru) and 撮る (toru) are one of the most commonly confused pairs. Both are pronounced exactly the same: とる (toru). But 取る means “to take or get,” while 撮る means specifically “to photograph or film.” Using the wrong kanji in writing or not knowing which meaning is intended when you hear とる can lead to real confusion. This guide breaks down both verbs completely, with examples covering all the major meanings of 取る and the focused use of 撮る.

Yuka

Hey Rei, what’s the best way to remember the difference between 取る and 撮る?

Rei

The best trick is to associate each word with a strong image or situation. By the end of this article you’ll have one for each — promise!

At a Glance: 取る vs. 撮る

取る (toru) — Take, Get, and Much More

取る is one of the most versatile verbs in Japanese. Its core meaning is “to take” or “to get,” but it appears in a huge number of fixed collocations where the exact nuance shifts depending on the object it pairs with. This is a verb you will encounter constantly from N5 all the way through advanced Japanese.

Example 1 — taking notes:

私はメモを取る。
Watashi wa memo wo toru.
I take notes.

Example 2 — getting a seat:

先に席を取っておいて。
Saki ni seki wo totte oite.
Please save a seat in advance.

Example 3 — taking attendance:

先生が出席を取る。
Sensei ga shusseki wo toru.
The teacher takes attendance.

Yuka

That makes sense! So 取る is about… okay, I think I’m starting to get it.

Rei

You’re getting it! And the more you practice using 取る in sentences, the more automatic it becomes. Language learning is all about repetition.

The Many Meanings of 取る

Here is a summary of the most common collocations using 取る, showing just how wide its range of meaning is:

Example — taking responsibility:

失敗の責任を取ります。
Shippai no sekinin wo torimasu.
I will take responsibility for the failure.

Example — obtaining a qualification:

来年、運転免許を取りたい。
Rainen, unten menkyo wo toritai.
I want to get my driver’s license next year.

Yuka

Alright. And now explain 撮る? I want to make sure I have both down.

Rei

Sure! 撮る is actually the easier one to remember once you have a clear mental image. Let’s look at the examples.

撮る (toru) — Specifically for Photos and Video

撮る has only one focused meaning: to take a photograph or to film/shoot video. Its range is intentionally narrow. The kanji 撮 contains the radical for “hand” (扌) combined with elements suggesting capturing an image. You will always see 撮る paired with 写真 (shashin — photo), ビデオ (bideo — video), 動画 (douga — video clip), or similar image/film-related nouns.

Example 1 — taking a photo:

写真を撮ってもいいですか？
Shashin wo totte mo ii desu ka?
May I take a photo?

Example 2 — filming video:

コンサートをビデオで撮った。
Konsaato wo bideo de totta.
I filmed the concert on video.

Example 3 — taking a selfie:

一緒に自撮りを撮ろう！
Issho ni jidori wo torou!
Let’s take a selfie together!

Side-by-Side Comparison

Decision Flowchart: 取る or 撮る?

You want to use とる (toru) in a sentence.
              |
              v
    What is the object?
         /           \
        /             \
写真 / ビデオ /      Anything else
動画 / 自撮り         (notes, seat,
(photo/video)         qualification,
                       responsibility...)
        |                     |
        v                     v
    撮る (撮)               取る (取)

Quick Quiz — Test Yourself!

Fill in the blank with 取る or 撮る (use the appropriate form for each sentence).

Q1. I want to take a photo of Mt. Fuji.
富士山の写真を＿＿＿たい。
Fujisan no shashin wo ___ tai.

Answer: 撮り (tori) → 撮りたい
Reason: 写真 (photo) always pairs with 撮る.

Q2. Let’s take notes during the lecture.
授業中にメモを＿＿＿ましょう。
Jugyou chuu ni memo wo ___ mashou.

Answer: 取り (tori) → 取りましょう
Reason: メモ (notes) always pairs with 取る.

Q3. She filmed the ceremony on her phone.
彼女はスマホで式を＿＿＿た。
Kanojo wa sumaho de shiki wo ___ ta.

Answer: 撮っ (totte) → 撮った
Reason: Filming / recording an event uses 撮る.

Q4. He took responsibility for the mistake.
彼は失敗の責任を＿＿＿た。
Kare wa shippai no sekinin wo ___ ta.

Answer: 取っ (totte) → 取った
Reason: 責任を取る (to take responsibility) uses 取る.

Q5. May I take a photo here?
ここで写真を＿＿＿てもいいですか？
Koko de shashin wo ___ te mo ii desu ka?

Answer: 撮っ (totte) → 撮ってもいいですか
Reason: Asking permission to photograph — 写真を撮る.

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あわせて読みたい

Yuka

Okay Rei, quiz time! I want to test how well I’ve absorbed all this.

Rei

Challenge accepted on your behalf! Let’s see how much of 取る and 撮る has sunk in.

Want to explore more Japanese verbs that look or sound the same? These guides cover other commonly confused verb pairs:

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