फ़ोटो खींचना (foto khiinchnaa)

verb A common compound expression meaning 'to take a photo'; literally 'to pull/draw a photo,' using खींचना (khiinchnaa, 'to pull') the way English uses 'to take' or 'to shoot' a picture.
Sense 1 : to take a photograph
verb, transitive The object फ़ोटो (foto) is almost always retained even when the person/thing photographed is expressed with का (kaa) or की (kii): फ़ोटो खींचना (kisii kii foto khiinchnaa, 'to take someone's photo').
Synonyms: फ़ोटो लेना (foto lenaa), तस्वीर खींचना (tasviir khiinchnaa), फ़ोटो उतारना (foto utaarnaa)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Delhi families are enthusiastic photo-takers at weddings, picnics, and monuments -- you will constantly hear एक फ़ोटो खींचो (ek foto khiincho, 'take a photo') shouted at India Gate or during a family function. The verb खींचना (khiinchnaa) here keeps its core sense of 'pulling' or 'drawing out' an image, much like English 'snap' or 'shoot' a picture.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try to translate 'take' literally with लेना (lenaa) alone; while फ़ोटो लेना (foto lenaa) is also heard, खींचना (khiinchnaa) is the more vivid, commonly used verb, evoking the physical click/pull of the camera shutter. 2) Since फ़ोटो खींचना (foto khiinchnaa) is transitive, remember the ने (ne) marking on the subject in the perfective: उसने फ़ोटो खींची (usne foto khiinchii, 'he/she took a photo') -- and note फ़ोटो (foto) is feminine, so the verb agrees with it (खींची (khiinchii), not खींचा (khiinchaa)).
Sample Sentences:
यहाँ एक फ़ोटो खींचो! Take a photo here!
(yahaan ek foto khiincho!)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
इंडिया गेट के सामने कोई हमारी फ़ोटो खींच दे। May someone take our photo in front of India Gate.
(indiyaa get ke saamne koii hamaarii foto khiinch de।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
वह हर पिकनिक पर ढेर सारी फ़ोटो खींचता है। He takes tons of photos at every picnic.
(vah har piknik par dher saarii foto khiinchtaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
फ़ोटोग्राफर अभी दुल्हन की फ़ोटो खींच रहा है। The photographer is taking the bride's photo right now.
(fotograaphar abhii dulhan kii foto khiinch rahaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मैंने ताजमहल की बहुत सारी फ़ोटो खींची थीं। I had taken a lot of photos of the Taj Mahal.
(mainne taajmahal kii bahut saarii foto khiinchii thiin।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर कैमरा ठीक होता तो हम शादी की फ़ोटो खींच लेते। If the camera had worked, we would have taken photos of the wedding.
(agar kaimraa thiik hotaa to ham shaadii kii foto khiinch lete।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
समारोह में इन बच्चों की फ़ोटो ज़रूर खींची जाएगी। These children's photo will definitely be taken at the ceremony.
(samaaroh men in bachchon kii foto zaroor khiinchii jaaegii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
क्या आप कृपया हमारी एक फ़ोटो खींच सकते हैं? Could you please take a photo of us?
(kyaa aap kripyaa hamaarii ek foto khiinch sakte hain?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
स्मारक की फ़ोटो खींचने से पहले टिकट लेना ज़रूरी है। It's necessary to buy a ticket before taking a photo of the monument.
(smaarak kii foto khiinchne se pahle tikat lenaa zaroorii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
फंक्शन में हर कोई अपने फ़ोन से फ़ोटो खींच रहा था। Everyone at the function was taking photos with their phone.
(phankshan men har koii apne fon se foto khiinch rahaa thaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
पापा ने कहा, जल्दी से एक फ़ोटो खींच लो, वरना लाइट चली जाएगी। Dad said, quickly take a photo, otherwise the light will go.
(paapaa ne kahaa, jaldii se ek foto khiinch lo, varnaa laait chalii jaaegii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Verb
infinitive: फ़ोटो खींचना (foto khiinchnaa)
infinitive oblique: फ़ोटो खींचने (foto khiinchne)
habitual/simple (sg.m): फ़ोटो खींचता (foto khiinchtaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m): फ़ोटो खींचते (foto khiinchte)
habitual/simple (sg.f): फ़ोटो खींचती (foto khiinchtii)
habitual/simple (pl.f): फ़ोटो खींचतीं (foto khiinchtiin)
continuous (sg.m): फ़ोटो खींच रहा (foto khiinch rahaa)
continuous (pl.m): फ़ोटो खींच रहे (foto khiinch rahe)
continuous (sg.f): फ़ोटो खींच रही (foto khiinch rahii)
continuous (pl.f): फ़ोटो खींच रहीं (foto khiinch rahiin)
perfective (sg.m): फ़ोटो खींचा (foto khiinchaa)
perfective (pl.m): फ़ोटो खींचे (foto khiinche)
perfective (sg.f): फ़ोटो खींची (foto khiinchii)
perfective (pl.f): फ़ोटो खींचीं (foto khiinchiin)
imperative (informal): फ़ोटो खींच (foto khiinch)
imperative (neutral): फ़ोटो खींचो (foto khiincho)
imperative (formal): फ़ोटो खींचिए (foto khiinchie)
future (1sg.m): फ़ोटो खींचूँगा (foto khiinchoongaa)
future (1sg.f): फ़ोटो खींचूँगी (foto khiinchoongii)
future (1pl.m): फ़ोटो खींचेंगे (foto khiinchenge)
future (1pl.f): फ़ोटो खींचेंगी (foto khiinchengii)
future (2sg.m): फ़ोटो खींचेगा (foto khiinchegaa)
future (2sg.f): फ़ोटो खींचेगी (foto khiinchegii)
future (2pl.m): फ़ोटो खींचोगे (foto khiinchoge)
future (2pl.f): फ़ोटो खींचोगी (foto khiinchogii)
future (3sg.m): फ़ोटो खींचेगा (foto khiinchegaa)
future (3sg.f): फ़ोटो खींचेगी (foto khiinchegii)
future (3pl.m): फ़ोटो खींचेंगे (foto khiinchenge)
future (3pl.f): फ़ोटो खींचेंगी (foto khiinchengii)
subjunctive (1sg): फ़ोटो खींचूँ (foto khiinchoon)
subjunctive (1pl): फ़ोटो खींचें (foto khiinchen)
subjunctive (2sg): फ़ोटो खींचे (foto khiinche)
subjunctive (2pl): फ़ोटो खींचो (foto khiincho)
subjunctive (3sg): फ़ोटो खींचे (foto khiinche)
subjunctive (3pl): फ़ोटो खींचें (foto khiinchen)