象牙(ぞうげ)

ぞうげ
noun
ivory
animal-mammalnature
1. ivory
The hard white material of an elephant's tusks, formerly used for carvings, piano keys and the traditional Japanese name seal.
象牙(ぞうげ)の印鑑(いんかん)。
An ivory seal.
象牙(ぞうげ)の取引(とりひき)は禁止(きんし)されている。
The ivory trade is banned.
祖父(そふ)が大切(たいせつ)にしていた象牙(ぞうげ)の置物(おきもの)は、今(いま)では売(う)ることもできない。
The ivory ornament my grandfather treasured can't even be sold now.

Literally "elephant tusk": 象(ぞう) (elephant) + 牙(きば) (tusk, fang; read げ here).

Common collocations

Cultural note

Japan was long a major market for ivory because of 印鑑(いんかん) seals and the plectrums of the 三味線(しゃみせん). International trade has been banned since 1989.

general
Added 2026.10.8 4:20 · Revised 2026.10.8 4:23
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