像(ぞう)

ぞう
noun / suffix
statue, image
1. statue, figure
A sculptural representation of a person, animal, or deity.
公園(こうえん)に銅(どう)像(ぞう)が建(た)っている。
A bronze statue stands in the park.
仏(ほとけ)像(ぞう)を拝(おが)む。
To worship a Buddha statue.
お寺(てら)には古(ふる)い仏(ぶつ)像(ぞう)がたくさんある。
There are many old Buddha statues at the temple.
2. image, picture
A visual representation or reflection.
鏡(かがみ)に映(うつ)った自分(じぶん)の像(ぞう)を見(み)た。
I saw my own image reflected in the mirror.
カメラの映(えい)像(ぞう)がぼやけている。
The camera image is blurry.
映(えい)像(ぞう) = image, video
画(が)像(ぞう)ファイルのサイズが大(おお)きすぎて、送(おく)れなかった。
The image file was too large and couldn't be sent.
画(が)像(ぞう) = image, picture

像(ぞう) has two main meanings: a physical statue or sculpture, and a visual image or reflection. It frequently appears as a suffix in compounds.

STATUE COMPOUNDS:

  • 銅(どう)像(ぞう): bronze statue
  • 石(せき)像(ぞう): stone statue
  • 仏(ぶつ)像(ぞう) / 仏(ほとけ)像(ぞう): Buddha statue
  • 彫(ちょう)像(ぞう): carved statue, sculpture
  • 胸(きょう)像(ぞう): bust (head and shoulders)

IMAGE COMPOUNDS:

  • 映(えい)像(ぞう): image, video footage
  • 画(が)像(ぞう): digital image, picture file
  • 想(そう)像(ぞう): imagination (mental image)
  • 肖(しょう)像(ぞう): portrait

HOMOPHONE:
象(ぞう) (elephant) is written with a different kanji. The context usually makes the meaning clear.

Related Words

Contrast: 象(ぞう) (elephant (homophone))
general
Added 2026.1.12 21:24 · Revised 2026.4.5 20:45
03500/03691_zou