Explore 像 through physical statues and representations. Learn its reading in complete words and notice what each image represents.

The idea

像 has 14 strokes and the common on-reading ぞう. Follow the linked stroke diagram, then read 銅像（どうぞう）, 肖像（しょうぞう） and 画像（がぞう） as whole words. 想像（そうぞう） means imagining.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample
銅像どうぞうThere is a bronze statue in the park.
肖像しょうぞうA portrait hangs on the wall.
画像がぞうPlease send the image by email.
想像そうぞうI can picture the scene in my mind.

Examples

  • 公園こうえんに銅像どうぞうがあります。There is a bronze statue in the park.
  • 寺てらで仏像ぶつぞうを見みました。We saw a Buddha statue at the temple.
  • 壁かべに肖像しょうぞうが掛かかっています。A portrait hangs on the wall.
  • 画像がぞうをメールで送おくってください。Please send the image by email.
  • その場面ばめんを頭あたまの中なかで想像そうぞうできます。I can picture the scene in my mind.
  • 博物館はくぶつかんは古ふるい石像せきぞうを展示てんじしています。The museum displays an old stone statue.

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

Watch out

像 can refer to a statue or an image, while 象 by itself means elephant. Both can be read ぞう in compounds, so use meaning and spelling together: 肖像 is a portrait.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 銅像 in hiragana.

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    どうぞう

    銅像 is どうぞう: a bronze statue, such as the one in the park.

  2. Write the reading of 画像 in hiragana.

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    がぞう

    画像 is がぞう: an image, such as the file sent by email.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 肖＿（しょうぞう）［像／象］.

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    像

    像 completes 肖像（しょうぞう）, a portrait; 象 is a different character.

Use it today

Write 像 with the stroke diagram. Cover the table, read 銅像 and 画像, then make a sentence using one of them.