How to Say “Can you take a photo for us?” in Chinese
Getting around · HSK 3
"Can you take a photo for us?" in Chinese is 能帮我们拍张照吗？ (Néng bāng wǒmen pāi zhāng zhào ma?). 拍照 is the verb for taking a photo; 拍 (pāi) means to slap/click, 照 is short for 照片 (photo). The measure word 张 (zhāng) is used for flat things like photos, paper, tickets.
Primary translation
能帮我们拍张照吗？
Néng bāng wǒmen pāi zhāng zhào ma?
Traditional: 能幫我們拍張照嗎？
Variants by register
Formal
请问您能帮我们拍张照吗？
Qǐngwèn nín néng bāng wǒmen pāi zhāng zhào ma?
Casual
帮我们拍张照呗。
Bāng wǒmen pāi zhāng zhào bei.
When to use it
拍照 is the verb for taking a photo; 拍 (pāi) means to slap/click, 照 is short for 照片 (photo). The measure word 张 (zhāng) is used for flat things like photos, paper, tickets. 帮 (to help) is the polite framing; Chinese usually phrases requests as 'can you help me do X' rather than 'can you do X for me.' In tourist spots, Chinese people are generally happy to help; hand over your phone with the camera already open and say 麻烦您了 (máfan nín le, 'sorry to trouble you') after. For a selfie together, say 自拍 (zìpāi) or 一起拍.
Example sentences
不好意思，能帮我们拍张照吗？
Bù hǎoyìsi, néng bāng wǒmen pāi zhāng zhào ma?
Excuse me, can you take a photo for us?
请按这个按钮就可以了，谢谢！
Qǐng àn zhège ànniǔ jiù kěyǐ le, xièxie!
Just press this button, thank you!
可以再拍一张吗？刚才我眨眼了。
Kěyǐ zài pāi yì zhāng ma? Gāngcái wǒ zhǎyǎn le.
Can you take another one? I blinked just now.