象 (xiàng) - Elephant — a large mammal with a trunk & also means shape, form, appearance, or phenomenon

象Tone 4

xiàng ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

想信

象 · xiàng

Elephant — a large mammal with a trunk and tusks;

also means shape, form, appearance, or phenomenon;

used in words like image, phenomenon, and to resemble.

Elephant — a large mammal with a trunkalso means shape, form, appearance, or phenomenonused in words like image, phenomenon, and to

Usage highlights

ElephantImage, formPhenomenonAtmosphere, meteorologyTo resembleSymbol, emblem

Synonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The elephant is a large animal (大象).
  • This is a weather phenomenon (气象 phenomenon).
  • The two objects look similar (相象).
  • He has a good image (形象).

Collocations

  • Elephant(大象)
  • Image, form(形象)
  • Phenomenon(现象)
  • Atmosphere, meteorology(气象)
  • To resemble(象似)
  • Symbol, emblem(象征)

Idioms

  • Blind men touching an elephant(盲人摸象)
  • An elephant entering a china shop(象入瓷店)
  • Pulling an elephant with a shrimp cord(虾牵大象)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Elephants are revered in many Asian cultures, particularly in Buddhism, where the white elephant is considered sacred.
  • In Chinese culture, the elephant symbolizes strength, wisdom, and good luck.
  • The character is also used abstractly to denote form, appearance, or phenomenon, extending its meaning beyond the animal.

FAQ