Photography

1. Надад зураг авч өгнө үү?

   Nadad zurag avch ögnö üü?

   Could you take a photo of me?

   Usage

   Asking someone to take your photo at a tourist location

   Grammar Note

   "Авч өгнө үү" = converb + "өгнө" (give/do for someone) — a benefactive construction politely asking someone to perform an action for you.

2. Зураг авч болох уу?

   Zurag avch bolokh uu?

   May I take a photo (of you)?

   Usage

   Asking permission before photographing someone

   Grammar Note

   "Зураг авах" = "to take a photo". The converb "авч" + "болох уу" asks for permission — "may I take (one)?"

3. Инээгээрэй!

   Ineegeerei!

   Smile please!

   Usage

   Asking someone to smile before taking a photo

   Grammar Note

   "Инээх" (laugh/smile) + "-гээрэй" (please do) = polite imperative. The suffix "-гээрэй/-гаарай" forms polite commands in Mongolian.

4. Энэ зураг маш гоё гарсан!

   Ene zurag mash goyo garsan!

   This photo turned out really beautiful!

   Usage

   Complimenting how a photo turned out

   Grammar Note

   "Гарсан" is the perfective past of "гарах" (come out/emerge). "Зураг гоё гарсан" = "the photo came out beautifully" — a natural Mongolian expression.

5. Хөдлөхгүй байгаарай, зураг авна.

   Khödlökhgüi baigaarai, zurag avna.

   Please stay still, I'm taking a photo.

   Usage

   Asking the subject to stay still before taking a shot

   Grammar Note

   "Хөдлөхгүй" = "хөдлөх" (move) + negative suffix "-гүй" = "not moving." "Байгаарай" is the polite imperative of "байх" (be/stay) = "please stay."

6. Энд гэрэл маш сайхан байна.

   End gerel mash saikhan baina.

   The light here is very beautiful.

   Usage

   Commenting on the beautiful lighting at a photography location

   Grammar Note

   "Гэрэл" means "light" in Mongolian. "Маш" is an intensifying adverb meaning "very." A compliment for photography-friendly lighting.

7. Тэр ордны өмнө зургаа авч өгнө үү.

   Ter ordny ömnö zurgaa avch ögnö üü.

   Could you take a photo of me in front of that palace?

   Usage

   Asking for a photo with a landmark building in the background

   Grammar Note

   "Ордны" is the genitive of "орд" (palace). "Өмнө" means "front/before," and "〜ны өмнө" forms "in front of 〜."

8. Хамт селфи авч болох уу?

   Khamt selfi avch bolokh uu?

   Can we take a selfie together?

   Usage

   Suggesting to take a selfie together

   Grammar Note

   "Селфи" is a loanword from English. "Хамт" means "together." "Болох уу" is a widely used permission-seeking phrase.

9. Энд зураг авахыг зөвшөөрдөг үү?

   End zurag avakhyg zövshöördög üü?

   Is photography permitted here?

   Usage

   Checking whether photography is allowed, e.g. in a museum or temple

   Grammar Note

   "Зөвшөөрдөг" is the habitual present of "зөвшөөрөх" (permit/allow). Used to ask about established rules or general permissions at a venue.

10. Зураг бүдэг гарсан байна, дахиад авч болох уу?

    Zurag büdeg garsan baina, dakhiad avch bolokh uu?

    The photo came out blurry. Could you take it again?

    Usage

    Asking for a retake when a photo comes out blurry

    Grammar Note

    "Гарсан байна" = perfective past + "байна" (is) = "has come out and remains so" — a resultative construction in Mongolian.

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