Explore 象 in words for an animal, an impression and a target. Learn each reading in context.

The idea

象 has 12 strokes. 象（ぞう） means elephant; 対象（たいしょう） means target or subject, while 印象（いんしょう） means impression. Learn the readings as whole words.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingIn context
象ぞうI saw an elephant at the zoo.
印象いんしょうThis painting left a strong impression.
対象たいしょうChildren are eligible for this service.
気象きしょうThe weather changes quickly in the mountains.

Examples

  • 動物園どうぶつえんで象ぞうを見みました。I saw an elephant at the zoo.
  • 象ぞうは鼻はなが長ながいです。The elephant has a long trunk.
  • この絵えは強つよい印象いんしょうを残のこしました。This painting left a strong impression.
  • 博物館はくぶつかんに銅像どうぞうが展示てんじされています。The museum displays a bronze statue.
  • 子供こどもはこのサービスの対象たいしょうです。Children are eligible for this service.
  • 山やまでは気象きしょうがすぐに変かわります。The weather changes quickly in the mountains.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

象 is read ぞう in 象 but しょう in 対象 and 印象. Do not confuse 象 with 像, which appears in 銅像, a statue.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 象 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    ぞう

    象 is ぞう: it names the elephant in the zoo sentence.

  2. Write the reading of 印象 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    いんしょう

    印象 is いんしょう: the painting made a strong impression.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 対＿（たいしょう）［象／像］.

    Show answer or example answer

    象

    象 completes 対象（たいしょう）, meaning the target or people covered by something.

Use it today

Write 象 using the linked stroke-order diagram, then cover the table and read 象 and 印象 aloud. Make a sentence with 対象.