Translation guide
The English word "picture" covers several distinct concepts in Japanese. The most common equivalents are 写真 for photographs, 絵 for drawings/paintings, and 画像 for digital images. The right choice depends on what kind of picture you mean.
A picture taken with a camera, printed or digital.
The standard word for a photograph. Covers both printed and digital photos.
When did you take this picture?
Please show me the pictures from your trip.
Refers to a digital image, often on a screen. Can be a photo, graphic, or screenshot.
Please click on this picture.
A picture created by hand or digitally, not a photograph.
General word for a drawing, painting, or illustration. Covers both physical and digital art.
The child drew a picture on the wall.
Who painted this picture?
Short for illustration. Often used for digital or commercial illustrations, manga-style art, etc.
Used for diagrams, figures, or charts in textbooks or documents.
A picture shown on a TV, computer, or phone screen.
A picture in your mind; an idea or memory of how something looks.
Used for a mental image, impression, or concept. Very common in Japanese.
I can't really picture him. (lit. I can't form a mental picture of him.)
Verb meaning 'to imagine' or 'to picture'. Often used when asking someone to visualize something.
Just picture it for a moment.
A picture meaning the overall situation or state of affairs.
Means 'situation' or 'state of affairs'. Used in phrases like 'the big picture' or 'get the picture'.
We need to understand the big picture.
Literally 'whole picture', used for the overall image or complete view of something.
I still don't see the big picture.
A picture meaning a motion picture or film.
The standard word for a movie or film. 'Picture' in this sense is somewhat old-fashioned in English, but 映画 is the direct equivalent.
How about going to see a picture tonight?
写真 is specifically a photograph. 絵 is a hand-drawn or painted picture. 画像 is a digital image, which can be a photo or graphic. If you're talking about a photo on your phone, both 写真 and 画像 are possible, but 写真 emphasizes it's a photograph, while 画像 is more technical/neutral.
The loanword ピクチャー is rarely used in natural Japanese. It might appear in technical contexts (like 'picture-in-picture') but is not a general translation for 'picture'.
Can I take a picture?
She drew a picture of a cat.
The picture on the screen is too dark.
このイラスト、かわいいね。
This picture is cute, isn't it?
Please refer to picture 1.
このテレビは映像がきれいだ。
This TV has a beautiful picture.