象: the kanji for elephant; phenomenon
象 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means elephant; phenomenon. Below are its readings, 5 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
象 is written in 12 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
象 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 5 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ショウ (shou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 印象いんしょう · inshō | impression |
| 現象げんしょう · genshō | phenomenon |
| 対象たいしょう · taishō | target; subject |
| 気象きしょう · kishō | weather; meteorology |
ゾウ (zou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 象ぞう · zō | elephant |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 動物園で象を見た。Dōbutsuen de zō o mita.I saw an elephant at the zoo.
- この講座は初心者を対象にしている。Kono kōza wa shoshinsha o taishō ni shite iru.This course is aimed at beginners.
- 日本の印象はどうですか。Nihon no inshō wa dō desu ka.What is your impression of Japan?
- 気象情報によると、明日は雪だ。Kishō jōhō ni yoru to, ashita wa yuki da.According to the weather report, it will snow tomorrow.
- これは科学で説明できない現象だ。Kore wa kagaku de setsumei dekinai genshō da.This is a phenomenon that science cannot explain.
Questions about 象
How many strokes does 象 have?
象 is written in 12 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 象?
The on readings are shou (ショウ), zou (ゾウ). 象 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 象?
N2. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N2 is designed to match the former Level 2.
More JLPT N2 kanji
Nature, weather and animals
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 象
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.