象

See also: 𧰼 and 像

象	U+8C61, 象 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8C61

← 豠
[U+8C60]

CJK Unified Ideographs

豢 →
[U+8C62]

Translingual

Stroke order
Stroke order in simplified Chinese

Japanese	象
Simplified	象
Traditional	象

Alternative forms

In traditional Chinese, Japanese kanji and Korean hanja, the middle component of 象 is written 𫩏 followed by 𧰨.
In simplified Chinese and Vietnamese Nôm, the middle component of 象 is written 口 overlapped by a downward ㇓ slash and is one stroke less compared to the traditional form.

Han character

象 (Kangxi radical 152, 豕+5 in traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean, 豕+4 in simplified Chinese, 12 strokes in traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean, 11 strokes in simplified Chinese, cangjie input 弓日心人 (NAPO), four-corner 2723₂, composition ⿱⺈⿻口𧰨(GV) or ⿳⺈𫩏𧰨(HT) or ⿸⿳⺈𫩏⿹⿱丿㇁⿱丿丿⿺乀丿(JK))

Derived characters

像, 𩞧(𱄇), 𧬛, 𪮱, 𢠽, 𬂏, 𭩈, 鐌, 𤩪, 潒, 橡, 𦺨, 𥣟, 𫂤, 𢇐, 𫮧, 嶑, 襐, 𧝌, 𢄵, 勨, 𨖶, 𢐣, 𤡸, 𬥌, 蟓, 鱌(𬶲), 䴂

References

KangXi: page 1195, character 21
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 36372
Dae Jaweon: page 1658, character 1
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 6, page 3611, character 9
Unihan data for U+8C61

Chinese

trad.		象
simp. ^#		象
2nd round simp.		⿱⺈𫩏

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 象
Shang	Western Zhou	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (象) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
潒	l'aːŋʔ, ljaŋʔ
像	*ljaŋʔ
象	*ljaŋʔ
橡	*ljaŋʔ
蟓	ljaŋʔ, hljaŋs
襐	*ljaŋʔ
勨	ljaŋʔ, laŋʔ
鱌	*ljaŋʔ
嶑	*ljaŋʔ

Pictogram (象形) - pictographic representation of an elephant. ⺈ represents the trunk, 𫩏 represents the head, and 𧰨 represents the body.

Etymology 1

This character is used to represent two semantic fields ‘elephant; tusk’ and ‘to outline; to depict; to delineate; to represent; to resemble; to map’. Both fields are found from the earliest layers of the edited literature onwards, whereas only the first meaning is amply attested in oracle bone inscriptions.

Traditionally, the two senses are treated as related, with the sense of ‘to depict; to resemble’ considered a derivative of the sense of ‘elephant’. The derivation from the ‘elephant’ meaning to the ‘likeness’ meaning is explained in Han Feizi First attested in the ca. 221 BCE.: “Men rarely see living elephants. As they come by the skeleton of a dead elephant, they imagine its living form according to its features. Therefore it comes to pass that whatever people use for imagining the real is called 象.”

Modern etymology studies on Old Chinese have challenged this opinion.

As for the ‘elephant; tusk’ sense, this is a widely used area word in East and Southeast Asia. Literature opinions differ on the origin and immediate relationship of this Chinese word; some (e.g. Schuessler, 2007) believe the Chinese form is a loanword from a Southern language, since it is unlikely that peoples all over Southeast Asia and the Himalayan foothills would borrow a word from Northern China to denote an indigenous animal. Others believe the direction of borrowing is reversed (i.e. Tai-Kadai borrowing from Chinese), and that Chinese 象 should be compared with Tibetan གླང (glang), གླང་ཆེན (glang chen, “elephant”) arising from a common Proto-Sino-Tibetan *glaŋ (“ox, bull; elephant”), which may ultimately have an Austroasiatic origin (Behr, 2004). The second viewpoint is supported by the early attestation of this character and the archaeological findings of the historical ranges of elephants. However, Schuessler disputes that second viewpoint and links ST *glaŋ to 犅 (OC *klaːŋ, “ox, bull”).

See below for a tentative borrowing history of the various forms of this general area word.

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): xiàng (xiang⁴)
(Zhuyin): ㄒㄧㄤˋ
(Chengdu, SP): xiang⁴
(Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): щён (xi͡on, III)
Cantonese
(Guangzhou, Jyutping): zoeng⁶
(Taishan, Wiktionary): diang⁵
Gan (Wiktionary): xiong⁵
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): siong
(Meixian, Guangdong): xiong⁴
Jin (Wiktionary): xion³
Min Bei (KCR): siōng
Min Dong (BUC): chiông
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): chhiūⁿ / chhiǔⁿ / chhiōⁿ / chhiāuⁿ / siōng / sióng / siǒng / chhiāng
(Teochew, Peng'im): ciên⁶ / cion⁶ / siang⁶
Wu (Wiktionary): xxian (T3)
Xiang (Wiktionary): sian⁴

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: xiàng
  - Zhuyin: ㄒㄧㄤˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: siàng
  - Wade–Giles: hsiang⁴
  - Yale: syàng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shianq
  - Palladius: сян (sjan)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɕjɑŋ⁵¹/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: xiang⁴
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: xiang
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɕiaŋ²¹³/
- (Dungan)
  - Cyrillic and Wiktionary: щён (xi͡on, III)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɕiɑŋ⁴⁴/
  (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: zoeng⁶
  - Yale: jeuhng
  - Cantonese Pinyin: dzoeng⁶
  - Guangdong Romanization: zêng⁶
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ʃœːŋ²²/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: diang⁵
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tiaŋ³²/
Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary: xiong⁵
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɕiɔŋ¹¹/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: siong
  - Hakka Romanization System: xiong
  - Hagfa Pinyim: xiong⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /ɕi̯oŋ⁵⁵/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: xiong⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /ɕiɔŋ⁵³/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: xion³
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /ɕiɒ̃⁴⁵/
Min Bei
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: siōng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /siɔŋ⁵⁵/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: chiông
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰuɔŋ²⁴²/
Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Lukang, Sanxia, Yilan, Kinmen, Magong, Hsinchu, Taichung)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhiūⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: tshiūnn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: chviu
  - IPA (Xiamen, Kinmen): /t͡ɕʰiũ²²/
  - IPA (Taipei, Kaohsiung, Yilan): /t͡ɕʰiũ³³/
  - IPA (Lukang): /t͡ɕʰiũ³¹/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Lukang)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhiǔⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: tshiǔnn
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡ɕʰiũ²²/
  - IPA (Jinjiang, Lukang): /t͡ɕʰiũ³³/
- (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Tainan)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhiōⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: tshiōnn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: chvioi
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡ɕʰiɔ̃²²/
  - IPA (Tainan): /t͡ɕʰiɔ̃³³/
- (Hokkien: Penang)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhiāuⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: tshiāunn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: chviau
  - IPA (Penang): /t͡ɕʰiãu²¹/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siōng
  - Tâi-lô: siōng
  - Phofsit Daibuun: siong
  - IPA (Xiamen): /ɕiɔŋ²²/
  - IPA (Taipei, Kaohsiung): /ɕiɔŋ³³/
- (Hokkien: variant in Taiwan)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sióng
  - Tâi-lô: sióng
  - Phofsit Daibuun: siorng
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /ɕiɔŋ⁴¹/
  - IPA (Taipei): /ɕiɔŋ⁵³/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Jinjiang)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siǒng
  - Tâi-lô: siǒng
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /ɕiɔŋ²²/
  - IPA (Jinjiang): /ɕiɔŋ³³/
- (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhiāng
  - Tâi-lô: tshiāng
  - Phofsit Daibuun: chiang
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡ɕʰiaŋ²²/

Note:

chhiūⁿ/chhiǔⁿ/chhiōⁿ - vernacular;
siōng/sióng/siǒng/chhiāng - literary.

- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: ciên⁶ / cion⁶ / siang⁶
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tshiĕⁿ / tshiŏⁿ / siăng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰĩẽ³⁵/, /t͡sʰĩõ³⁵/, /siaŋ³⁵/

Note:

ciên6 - Chaozhou (“elephant”);
cion6 - Shantou (“elephant”);
siang6 - other senses.

Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: xxian (T3)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʑ̥iã²³/
Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary: sian⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /siæn⁴⁵/
  - Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /ɕiæn⁴⁵/

Middle Chinese: /zɨɐŋ^X/

Rime
Character	象
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	邪 (17)
Final (韻)	陽 (105)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	徐兩切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/zɨɐŋ^X/
Pan Wuyun	/ziɐŋ^X/
Shao Rongfen	/ziɑŋ^X/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/zɨaŋ^X/
Li Rong	/ziaŋ^X/
Wang Li	/zĭaŋ^X/
Bernard Karlgren	/zi̯aŋ^X/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	xiàng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	zoeng⁶

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*s-[d]aŋʔ/
(Zhengzhang): /*ljaŋʔ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	象
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	xiàng
Middle Chinese	‹ zjang^X ›
Old Chinese	/*s-[d]aŋʔ/
English	elephant
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	象
Reading #	1/1
No.	13664
Phonetic component	象
Rime group	陽
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	像
Old Chinese	/*ljaŋʔ/

Definitions

象 (1)

(Chinese Chess) 象 (3)

象

elephant (Classifier: 頭／头 m; 隻／只 m mn)
幼象 ― yòu xiàng ― young elephant
- 來獻其琛：元龜象齒、大賂南金。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
  来献其琛：元龟象齿、大赂南金。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Lái xiàn qí chēn: yuánguī xiàngchǐ, dàlù nánjīn. [Pinyin]
  They will come presenting their precious things: the large tortoises and their elephants’ teeth, and great contributions of the southern metals.
ivory; tusk
Synonym: 象牙 (xiàngyá)
象床 ― xiàngchuáng ― ivory-decorated bed
- 玉之瑱也、象之揥也。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
  From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Yù zhī tiàn yě, xiàng zhī tì yě. [Pinyin]
  There are her ear-ornaments of jade, her comb-pin of ivory.
(xiangqi) elephant (on the black side)
Synonym: 相 (xiāng)
(chess) bishop
symbol; emblem
象徵／象征 ― xiàngzhēng ― symbol
appearance; shape; phenomenon
天象 ― tiānxiàng ― celestial phenomenon
現象／现象 ― xiànxiàng ― phenomenon
景象 ― jǐngxiàng ― scene
(traditional Chinese medicine) complexion
病象 ― bìngxiàng ― disease signs and symptoms
image; picture; portrait
See also: 像
sign; indication
(obsolete) law; legislation
(obsolete) principle
(obsolete) calendar
(literary) to imitate; to follow the example of
象形 ― xiàngxíng ― pictogram
象聲詞／象声词 ― xiàngshēngcí ― onomatopoeia
(literary) to trace; to outline; to depict
to resemble
See also: 像
(historical) government official that translates southern languages
(～郡) (historical) Xiang, a commandery of Han China
a surname

Synonyms

(elephant):

Dialectal synonyms of 大象 (“elephant”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		象
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		象
Taxonomic name		象
Mandarin	Taiwan	大象
	Luoyang	象
	Wanrong	象
	Xi'an	象
	Ürümqi	象
	Wuhan	象
	Chengdu	象
	Guiyang	象
	Liuzhou	大象
	Singapore	大象
	Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)	象
Cantonese	Guangzhou	大笨象
	Hong Kong	大笨象
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)	象
	Macau	大笨象
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	大笨象
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	大笨象
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	大笨象
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	大笨象
	Foshan	大笨象
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	大笨象
	Foshan (Shunde)	大笨象
	Foshan (Sanshui)	大笨象
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	大象
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	大笨象
	Zhuhai (Qianshan)	大笨象
	Zhuhai (Doumen, Shangheng Tanka)	象
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	象
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	象
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	象
	Taishan	象, 大笨象
	Taishan (Guanghai)	大象哥, 大象
	Kaiping (Chikan)	象
	Enping (Niujiang)	象
	Heshan (Yayao)	象
	Dongguan	大笨象
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	大笨象
	Nanning	大笨象
	Wuzhou	大笨象
	Yulin	大象
	Hepu (Lianzhou)	大象
	Guiping	大笨象
	Mengshan (Xihe)	象
	Guigang (Nanjiang)	大笨象
	Beiliu (Tangliao)	象
	Baise	大笨象
	Bobai	大象
	Lingshan	象
	Pubei	象
	Qinzhou	大笨象
	Beihai	大笨象
	Ningming	大象
	Hengxian	大象
	Hezhou (Pumen)	大象
	Mandalay (Taishan)	象
Gan	Nanchang	象
Hakka	Meixian	象
	Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)	大笨象
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	象
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	大笨象
	Zhongshan (Wuguishan)	大笨象
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	大笨象
	Conghua (Lütian)	大象
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	象仔, 大象
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	象仔, 大象
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	象, 大象
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	象, 大象
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	象, 大象
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	象, 大象
	Beiliu (Tang'an)	象
	Mashan (Pianlian)	象
Jin	Taiyuan	象
Min Bei	Jian'ou	象
Min Dong	Fuzhou	象
Min Nan	Xiamen	象
	Quanzhou	象
	Zhangzhou	象
	Zhao'an	象
	Dongshan	象
	Taipei	象
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	象
	Kaohsiung	象
	Yilan	象
	Changhua (Lukang)	象
	Taichung	象
	Taichung (Wuqi)	象
	Tainan	象
	Taitung	象
	Hsinchu	象
	Kinmen	象
	Penghu (Magong)	象
	Penang (Hokkien)	象
	Singapore (Hokkien)	象, 大象
	Manila (Hokkien)	象
	Pingnan (Shangdu)	象
	Shantou	象
	Shantou (Chaoyang)	象
	Haikou	象
Puxian Min	Putian	象
Min Zhong	Yong'an	象
Zhongshan Min	Shaxi (Longdu)	大象
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	大象
Wu	Shanghai	象, 象鼻頭
	Shanghai (Chongming)	象
	Suzhou	象
	Danyang	象
	Hangzhou	象
Xiang	Quanzhou	大象

(like):

edit

Synonyms of 象

不啻 (bùchì) (literary)
似 (sì) (Classical Chinese, Cantonese)
似乎 (sìhū)
似如 (Xiang)
像 (xiàng)
像是 (xiàngshì)
好似 (hǎosì)
好像 (hǎoxiàng)
好比 (hǎobǐ)
如同 (rútóng)
宛 (wǎn) (Classical Chinese, or compounds only)
宛如 (wǎnrú) (literary)
宛然 (wǎnrán) (literary)
宛若 (wǎnruò) (literary)
就像 (jiùxiàng)
忽如 (hūrú) (literary)
恍若 (huǎngruò)

敢若 (Min Nan)
敢若是 (Min Nan)
有如 (yǒurú) (formal)
甲像 (Min Nan)
甲像是 (Min Nan)
看上去 (kàn shàngqù)
看似 (kànsì)
若 (ruò) (Classical Chinese, or compounds only)
若像 (Min Nan)
表面上 (biǎomiànshang)
貌似 (màosì)
像係／像系 (Hakka)
儼如／俨如 (yǎnrú) (literary)
儼然／俨然 (yǎnrán)
儼若／俨若 (yǎnruò) (literary)
勝如／胜如 (Wu)

彷彿／仿佛 (fǎngfú)
猶似／犹似 (yóusì) (literary)
猶像／犹像 (yóuxiàng) (literary)
猶如／犹如 (yóurú) (formal)
甲親像／甲亲像 (Min Nan)
看來／看来 (kànlái)
看樣子／看样子 (kànyàngzi)
看起來／看起来 (kànqilai)
若親像／若亲像 (Min Nan)
親像／亲像 (Hakka, Min Nan)
賽可／赛可 (Ningbo)
較像／较像 (Min Nan)
較像是／较像是 (Min Nan)
較親像／较亲像 (Min Nan)
顯得／显得 (xiǎnde)
𣍐輸／𫧃输 (bē-su) (Min Nan)

Coordinate terms

(Chinese chess pieces) 帥／帅/將／将, 仕/士, 相/象, 俥／伡/車／车, 傌／骂/馬／马, 炮/砲／炮, 兵/卒

Compounds

Derived terms from 象

人心不足蛇吞象 (rénxīn bù zú shé tūn xiàng)
假象 (jiǎxiàng)
具象 (jùxiàng)
刻板印象 (kèbǎn yìnxiàng)
加深印象
卦象
印度象 (Yìndù xiàng)
印象 (yìnxiàng)
印象派 (yìnxiàngpài)
合眼摸象
四象
大笨象
大象 (dàxiàng)
天象 (tiānxiàng)
好象
巴蛇吞象
巴蛇食象
幻象 (huànxiàng)
形象 (xíngxiàng)
形象化
得意忘象
忘象得意
怪象
想象 (xiǎngxiàng)
意象 (yìxiàng)
意象派
成象 (chéngxiàng)
抽象 (chōuxiàng)
抽象派
拔犀擢象
拽象拖犀
摸象
旱象
星象 (xīngxiàng)
景象 (jǐngxiàng)
椿象 (chūnxiàng)
正象
武象
死象
比象
毛象 (máoxiàng)
法天象地
法象 (fǎxiàng)
海象 (hǎixiàng)
渡河香象
燧象
爻象
玄象
病象 (bìngxiàng)
症象
盲人摸象 (mángrénmōxiàng)
真象
瞎子摸象 (xiāzimōxiàng)
石象 (shíxiàng)
米象 (mǐxiàng)
胎象
藏象
蛇吞象
血象 (xuèxiàng)
表象 (biǎoxiàng)
西洋象棋 (xīyáng xiàngqí)
角肩椿象
豆象
象事
象人 (xiàngrén)
象刑
象外
象山 (Xiàngshān)
象州 (Xiàngzhōu)
象床 (xiàngchuáng)
象度

象形 (xiàngxíng)
象形字
象形文字 (xiàngxíng wénzì)
象恭
象意
象拔蚌 (xiàngbábàng)
象揥
象服
象板
象棋 (xiàngqí)
象海豹
象牙 (xiàngyá)
象牙之塔
象牙塔 (xiàngyátǎ)
象牙婚
象牙木
象牙海岸 (Xiàngyá Hǎi'àn)
象牙雕
象物
象瑱
象皮病 (xiàngpíbìng)
象神 (Xiàngshén)
象笏
象管
象箸 (xiàngzhù)
象箸玉杯 (xiàngzhùyùbēi)
象舞
象郡
象限 (xiàngxiàn)
象雄 (Xiàngxióng, “Zhangzhung”)
象鼻山
超以象外
非洲象 (Fēizhōu xiàng)
香象渡河
乾象／干象 (qiánxiàng)
亂象／乱象 (luànxiàng)
凝血現象／凝血现象
劍齒象／剑齿象
包羅萬象／包罗万象 (bāoluó-wànxiàng)
印象主義／印象主义 (yìnxiàngzhǔyì)
印象批評／印象批评
喜劇形象／喜剧形象
圖象／图象
天象儀／天象仪 (tiānxiàngyí)
太平氣象／太平气象
太陰之象／太阴之象
對象／对象 (duìxiàng)
屬象／属象
形象藝術／形象艺术
徵象／征象 (zhēngxiàng)
意象主義／意象主义 (yìxiàngzhǔyì)
憑虛構象／凭虚构象
找對象／找对象
抽象主義／抽象主义 (chōuxiàngzhǔyì)
抽象名詞／抽象名词 (chōuxiàng míngcí)
抽象畫／抽象画 (chōuxiànghuà)
新氣象／新气象
曆象／历象
曆象表／历象表
森羅萬象／森罗万象 (sēnluó-wànxiàng)
毛細現象／毛细现象 (máoxì xiànxiàng)
氣象／气象 (qìxiàng)
氣象一新／气象一新
氣象學／气象学 (qìxiàngxué)
氣象潮／气象潮
氣象臺／气象台 (qìxiàngtái)
氣象萬千／气象万千 (qìxiàngwànqiān)
氣象衛星／气象卫星 (qìxiàng wèixīng)
氣象雷達／气象雷达
漁業氣象／渔业气象
無可比象／无可比象

猛獁象／猛犸象 (měngmǎxiàng)
現象／现象 (xiànxiàng)
生命徵象／生命征象 (shēngmìng zhēngxiàng)
生命跡象／生命迹象 (shēngmìng jìxiàng)
畫象／画象
畫象磚／画象砖
白象之國／白象之国
盲人說象／盲人说象
眾盲摸象／众盲摸象
社會現象／社会现象 (shèhuì xiànxiàng)
競合現象／竞合现象
約會對象／约会对象
綠椿象／绿椿象
緣椿象／缘椿象
緯象／纬象
縣象／县象
羅袍象簡／罗袍象简
聖嬰現象／圣婴现象 (shèngyīng xiànxiàng)
脈象／脉象 (màixiàng)
自然現象／自然现象 (zìrán xiànxiàng)
萬象／万象 (wànxiàng)
萬象包羅／万象包罗
萬象更新／万象更新 (wànxiànggēngxīn)
萬象森羅／万象森罗
虹吸現象／虹吸现象
襆頭象簡／幞头象简
觀象／观象 (guānxiàng)
觀象臺／观象台 (guānxiàngtái)
象傳／象传
象山學派／象山学派
象州縣／象州县
象徵／象征 (xiàngzhēng)
象徵主義／象征主义 (xiàngzhēngzhǔyì)
象徵性／象征性 (xiàngzhēngxìng)
象戲／象戏
象數／象数
象棋賽／象棋赛
象樣／象样
象櫛／象栉 (xiàngzhì)
象牙寶塔／象牙宝塔
象牙貝／象牙贝
象牙質／象牙质 (xiàngyázhì)
象皮紙／象皮纸 (xiàngpízhǐ)
象眼兒／象眼儿
象窯／象窑
象簡／象简 (xiàngjiǎn)
象紋／象纹
象聲／象声
象聲詞／象声词 (xiàngshēngcí)
象腳鼓／象脚鼓
象話／象话
象賢／象贤
象車／象车
象辭／象辞
象闕／象阙
象限儀／象限仪
象鳥／象鸟
象鼻蟲／象鼻虫 (xiàngbíchóng)
象齒焚身／象齿焚身
象龜／象龟
跡象／迹象 (jìxiàng)
退化現象／退化现象
針孔現象／针孔现象
鑄鼎象物／铸鼎象物
長毛象／长毛象 (chángmáoxiàng)
險象／险象 (xiǎnxiàng)
險象環生／险象环生
飛象過河／飞象过河 (fēixiàngguòhé)
香象絕流／香象绝流
馴象／驯象
龍象／龙象

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (象):

→ Japanese: 象(ぞう) (zō); 象(しょう) (shō)
→ Korean: 상(象) (sang)
→ Vietnamese: tượng (象)

Others:

→ Common Turkic: *yaŋan
- → Old Uyghur: [script needed] (yaŋa)
  - → Western Yugur: jaŋan
→? Bulgar:[1]
- →? Chuvash: сӑлан (sălan)
- →? Proto-Slavic: *slonъ
→ Kalmyk: зан (zan)
→ Mongolian: заан (zaan)
→ Proto-Tai: *ɟaːŋꟲ (“elephant”)
- Lao: ຊ້າງ (sāng)
- Lü: ᦋᦱᧂᧉ (tsaang²)
- Northern Thai: ᨩ᩶ᩣ᩠ᨦ (cang)
- Saek: ซาง
- Shan: ၸၢင်ႉ (tsâ̰ang)
- Tai Dam: ꪋ꫁ꪱꪉ
- Tai Nüa: ᥓᥣᥒᥳ (tsȧang)
- Thai: ช้าง (cháang)
- → Proto-Lolo-Burmese: *tsaŋ (“elephant”)
  - Burmese: ဆင် (hcang)
  - → Proto-Monic: *ciiŋ ("elephant")
    - Mon: စိၚ် (coiŋ)
→ Proto-Vietic: *ʔa-ɟaːŋ (“elephant”)

Etymology 2

For pronunciation and definitions of 象 – see 像 (“picture; image; photograph; figure; statue; figure; sculpture; etc.”). (This character, 象, is the former (1964-1986) first-round simplified form of 像.)
Notes: Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia and Singapore. Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Usage notes

象 was the official simplified form of 像 only until 1986.

References

Vovin, Alexander (2011) First and second person singular pronouns: a pillar or a pillory of the ‘Altaic’ hypothesis?‎, pages 271–272

“Entry #9059”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (in Chinese and Min Nan), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2011.

Japanese

Kanji

象

(grade 4 “Kyōiku” kanji, shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai form 𧰼)

Readings

Go-on: ぞう (zō, Jōyō)^{←ざう (zau, historical)}
Kan-on: しょう (shō, Jōyō)^{←しやう (syau, historical)}
Kun: かたち (katachi, 象); かたどる (katadoru, 象る); のり (nori, 象); きさ (kisa, 象)
Nanori: かた (kata); たか (taka)

Etymology 1

象 (zō, kisa): an Asian elephant.

Kanji in this term
象
ぞう Grade: 5
goon

/zau/ → /zɔː/ → /zoː/

From Middle Chinese 象 (zjang^X, “elephant; image, resemblance”). Compare modern Cantonese reading zoeng⁶.

The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing.

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) ぞー [zóꜜò] (Atamadaka – [1])[1][2]
IPA^(key): [d͡zo̞ː]

Noun

象(ぞう) • (zō) ^{←ざう (zau)^?} (counter 頭)

elephant

Derived terms

アジア象(ぞう) (ajiazō): Asian elephant
アフリカ象(ぞう) (afurikazō): African elephant
インド象(ぞう) (indozō): Indian elephant
象嵌(ぞうがん) (zōgan), 象眼(ぞうがん) (zōgan): inlay
象牙(ぞうげ) (zōge): ivory
象牙(ぞうげ)の塔(とう) (zōgenotō): ivory tower

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
象
しょう Grade: 5
kan’on

/sjau/ → /sjɔː/ → /ɕɔː/ → /ɕoː/

From Middle Chinese 象 (zjang^X, “elephant; image, resemblance”). Compare modern Min Nan reading siōng or Mandarin xiàng.

The kan'on reading, so likely a later borrowing.

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) しょー [shóꜜò] (Atamadaka – [1])[1]
IPA^(key): [ɕo̞ː]

Noun

象(しょう) • (shō) ^{←しやう (syau)^?}

likeness, appearance

Derived terms

象形(しょうけい) (shōkei): hieroglyphics
象徴(しょうちょう) (shōchō): symbol
抽象(ちゅうしょう) (chūshō): abstraction

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
象
きさ Grade: 5
kun’yomi

From Old Japanese. Cognate with 橒 (kisa, “wood grain”), from the way that ivory also has a grain.[3]

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [kʲisa̠]

Noun

象(きさ) • (kisa)

(obsolete) elephant
- 931–938, Minamoto no Shitagō, Wamyō Ruijushō (book 7, page 52)
  象 [...] 岐佐 [...] 獣名、似水牛、大耳、長鼻、眼細、牙長者也
  elephant, a kind of beast, looks like water buffalo, having big ears, long nose, slender eyes and long teeth
- 970-999, Utsubo Monogatari (Toshikage)
  それより西を行ケば、虎狼ひと山さワぐ所有り。キサ出デてその山をこしつ。
  (please add an English translation of this quote)

References

2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
1998, NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK, →ISBN
1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan

Kōno, Tama (c. 970–999) Nihon Koten Bungaku Taikei 10: Utsubo Monogatari 1 (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten, published 1959, →ISBN.
Minamoto, Shitagō; Kyōto Daigaku Bungakubu Kokugogaku Kokubungaku Kenkyūshitu (931–938) Shohon Shūsei Wamyō Ruijushō: Honbunhen (in Japanese), Kyōto: Rinsen, published 1968, →ISBN.

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 象 (MC zɨɐŋ^X). Recorded as Middle Korean 샤ᇰ〮 (syáng) (Yale: syang) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

Hanja

Wikisource象 (eumhun 코끼리 상 (kokkiri sang))

Hanja form^? of 상 (“elephant”).
Hanja form^? of 상 (“shape; figure; appearance”).

Compounds

대상 (對象, daesang)
현상 (現象, hyeonsang)
상징 (象徵, sangjing)
기상 (氣象, gisang)
가상 (假象, gasang)
만상 (萬象, mansang)
인상 (印象, insang)
추상 (抽象, chusang)
표상 (表象, pyosang)
심상 (心象, simsang)
형상 (形象, hyeongsang)
상형 (象形, sanghyeong)
구상 (具象, gusang)
상아 (象牙, sang'a)
사상 (事象, sasang)

References

국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

Vietnamese

Han character

象: Hán Nôm readings: tượng

This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

[1] Vovin, Alexander (2011) First and second person singular pronouns: a pillar or a pillory of the ‘Altaic’ hypothesis?‎, pages 271–272

[DJR-2] 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[NHK-3] 1998, NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK, →ISBN

[KDJ-4] 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan