象
elephant · pattern after · imitate · image · shape · sign (of the times)
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Pictograph of elephant.
Symbolism
Symbol, impression, elephant. Represents large animal.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Flow of time
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
森羅万象
しんらばんしょう
all things in nature; the whole creation
有象無象
うぞうむぞう
mob; the masses; rabble
心霊現象
しんれいげんしょう
psychic phenomenon
印象批評
いんしょうひひょう
impressionistic criticism
心象風景
しんしょうふうけい
imagined landscape; scenery in one's mind's eye
象箸玉杯
ぞうちょぎょくはい
living a lavish lifestyle; ivory chopsticks and jade cups
Proverbs & Idioms
群盲象を評す
ぐんもうぞうをひょうす
Blind men describing an elephant
Judging the whole from just a part
Related Figures & Stories
Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 象 mean in Japanese?
象 means elephant, pattern after, imitate, image, shape, sign (of the times).
How do you read 象?
On'yomi: ショウ、ゾウ (SHOU, ZOU). Kun'yomi: かたど.る (katadoru).
How many strokes does 象 have?
象 has 12 strokes. Its radical is 豕 (pig).
Is 象 a good kanji for a tattoo?
象 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means elephant, pattern after, imitate, image, shape, sign (of the times). Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.