大象

• Pinyin: dà xiàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 大 (big) + 象 (elephant, image)

Meaning

Elephant.

The largest land animal, native to Africa and Asia. In Chinese culture, elephants symbolize good luck, strength, and wisdom. The idiom 盲人摸象 (blind men touching an elephant) is commonly used to describe partial understanding.

Examples

1. 大象是陆地上最大的动物。 The elephant is the largest land animal.
2. 在泰国，大象被认为是神圣的动物。 In Thailand, elephants are considered sacred animals.
3. 孩子们在动物园里第一次看到了大象。 The children saw an elephant for the first time at the zoo.

Usage Guide

Context: animals, nature, zoos

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 大象的记忆力很好。(Elephants have great memory.)
• 非洲大象比亚洲大象体型大。(African elephants are bigger than Asian elephants.)

Don't Say

• 单独用'象'也能指大象，但'大象'更常用、更清楚——在科普或日常对话中优先用'大象' (Just 象 can mean elephant, but 大象 is more common and clearer — prefer 大象 in general conversation)

Origin & History

Compound of 大 (big) + 象 (elephant, image), directly meaning big elephant or simply elephant.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal