象

• 読み: ぞう
• ローマ字: zou
• 漢字の分解: 象 (zou/shou) — elephant; also symbol, image
• 発音: /zo.ɯ/

意味

Elephant. The large land mammal known for its trunk, tusks, and intelligence.

A noun referring to the animal. Read as ぞう in everyday use. Also has the on'yomi reading しょう used in abstract compounds like 象徴 (shouchou, symbol) and 印象 (inshou, impression), but the standalone word for the animal is always ぞう. A favourite subject in children's songs and zoo visits.

例文

1. 動物園で象を見るのが楽しみだ。
2. 象は鼻がとても長い動物です。
3. アフリカの象はアジアの象より大きい。

使い方ガイド

場面: animals, zoo, nature

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

The kanji 象 is a pictograph depicting an elephant seen from the side, showing its trunk, legs, and body. One of the oldest pictographic characters, originating from ancient Chinese encounters with elephants.

文化的背景

時代: Ancient

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal