Skip to main content

象: elephant

 

象 xiàng

noun
: elephant
: image; shape; form; appearance
: to imitate

Kun Reading

象る | かたどる katadoru

godan verb with ru ending | intransitive verb
: to model on; to make in the shape of; to represent; to pattern after; to imitate
: to symbolize

象さん | ぞうさん zousan

noun
: elephant

On Reading

象 | ぞう zou

noun
: elephant

象 | しょう shou

noun
: phenomenon

 Usage:

象徵[征] xiang4zheng1: emblem; symbol; token; badge; to symbolize; to signify; to stand for
象棋 xiang4qi2: Chinese chess [しょうぎ shougi: shogi; Japanese chess; xianqi]
象形 xiang4xing2: pictogram; one of the Six Methods 六书 of forming Chinese characters; Chinese character derived from a picture; sometimes called hieroglyph
[象形 | しょうけい shoukei: hieroglyphics; type of character representing pictures]

象形文字 xiang4 xing2 wen2 zi4: pictogram; hieroglyph
象形文字 | しょうけいもじ shoukeimoji: hieroglyph; hieroglyphic character

大象 da4xiang4: elephant

大笨象 da4 ben4 xiang4: (slang) elephant
 
大象虫 | おおぞうむし oozou mushiL giant weevil (Sipalinus gigas)

現[现]象 xian4xiang4: appearance; phenomenon
[現象 | げんしょう genshou: phenomenon]
形象 xing2xiang4: image; form; figure; visualization; vivid
[形象 | けいしょう keishou: shape; figure; image]
對[对]象 dui4xiang4: target; object; partner; boyfriend; girlfriend

找對象 [找对象] zhao3 dui4 xiang4: to seek a marriage partner; looking for a mate
 
約會對象 [约会对象] yue1 hui4 dui4 xiang4: partner for dating; a date (boyfriend or girlfriend)

氣[气]象 qi4xiang4: meteorological feature; meteorology; atmosphere; ambiance; scene
[気象 | きしょう kishou: weather; climate
: disposition; temperament]
印象 yin4xiang4: impression [印象 | いんしょう inshou: impression]

印象主義 [印象主义] yin4 xiang4 zhu3 yi4: impressionism
[印象主義 | いんしょうしゅぎ inshou shugi]



Japanese common word | expression | yojijukugo 四字熟語 | idiom | proverb
心象風景 | しんしょうふうけい shinshou fuukei
: (yoji) imagined landscape; scenery in one’s mind’s eye

群盲象を評す | ぐんもうぞうをひょうす gunmouzou o hyousu
: (proverb) the mediocre cannot understand the great

群盲象を撫でる | ぐんもうぞうをなでる gunmouzou o naderu
: the mediocre have no right to criticize the great

青木まり子現象 | あおきまりこげんしょう aokimariko genshou
: urge to defecate when stepping into a bookstore



Chinese expression | chengyu 成語 | idiom
合眼摸象 he2 yan3 mo1 xiang4
: to touch an elephant with closed eyes; to proceed blindly

瞎子摸象 xia1 zi5 mo1 xiang4
OR
盲人摸象 mang2 ren2 mo1 xiang4
: blind people touch an elephant (from Nirvana sutra 大般涅槃經|大般涅盘经 da4 ban1 Nie4 pan2 jing1); fig. unable to see the big picture; to mistake the part for the whole; unable to see the wood for the trees

險象環生 [险象环生] xian3 xiang4 huan2 sheng1
: dangers spring up all around; surrounded by perils

人心不足蛇吞象 ren2 xin1 bu4 zu2 she2 tun1 xiang4
: a man who is never content is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant

 Etymology:


象形 Pictographic.
Picture of an elephant.



 Examples:

老化現象の一種です。
ろうかげんしょうのいっしゅです soukagen shou no isshu desu
This is a condition caused by aging.

 
你像紙一樣白。
ni3 xiang4 zhi3 yi1 yang4 bai2
You are as white as a sheet of paper.

Resources: Chinese Dictionary | Japanese Dictionary