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March 24, 2026
大象dàxiàng(da4xiang4)
大象 (dà xiàng) means 'elephant' in Mandarin. It is used to refer to the large, gray mammals known for their intelligence and strong social bonds. The word is commonly encountered in conversations about wildlife, nature, and in educational contexts related to animals.
Frequency#4605DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, elephants symbolize wisdom and strength. They are often depicted in art and folklore, and their presence in Asian culture signifies good luck and prosperity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant 'big' (大, dà) elephant 'trumpeting' (象, xiàng) through the jungle. The '大' looks like a big mountain, symbolizing the elephant's size, while '象' can remind you of the unique shape of an elephant's trunk.
Meanings of 大象
dàxiàng(da4xiang4)
1elephant
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 大象
大象Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4605Frequency Rank
只Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 大象
Podcast: 大象
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AI Study Notes for 大象
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant 'big' (大, dà) elephant 'trumpeting' (象, xiàng) through the jungle. The '大' looks like a big mountain, symbolizing the elephant's size, while '象' can remind you of the unique shape of an elephant's trunk.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tones when pronouncing 大象, as mispronouncing either can lead to confusion with other words. This term is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but is particularly common in educational settings. A common collocation is '大象保护' (dà xiàng bǎo hù), meaning 'elephant conservation.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 大象 connects to other animal-related vocabulary you may encounter at this level, such as 猫 (māo, cat) and 狗 (gǒu, dog). Focus on practicing both the individual characters and their combination to reinforce your understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, elephants symbolize wisdom and strength. They are often depicted in art and folklore, and their presence in Asian culture signifies good luck and prosperity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 大象 with other animal names due to similar sounds. For example, saying '大象' when you mean '大象' (dà xiàng) is incorrect; ensure you use the correct tones to avoid confusion with unrelated words.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 大象
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Grammar Patterns of 大象
大象 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
一群____缓慢而笨拙地穿过平原，朝水潭走去。
A herd of elephants lolloped across the plains towards a watering hole.
Example Sentences for 大象 (4)
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1
一群大象缓慢而笨拙地穿过平原，朝水潭走去。
yī qún dà xiàng huǎn màn ér bèn zhuō dì chuān guò píng yuán， ， zhāo shuǐ tán zǒu。
A herd of elephants lolloped across the plains towards a watering hole.
2
在十七世纪, 泰国国王为战争训练了两万头大象.
zài shí qī shì jì, , tài guó guó wáng wéi zhàn zhēng xùn liàn le liǎng wàn tóu dà.
In the seventeenth century, a Thai king trained 20,000 elephants for battle.
The elephants trumpeted and stamped their feet at their approach.
4
愤怒的大象闯过森林.
fèn nù de dà xiàng chuǎng guò sēn lín.
The angry elephant crashed through the forest.
Cultural Notes for 大象
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, elephants symbolize wisdom and strength. They are often depicted in art and folklore, and their presence in Asian culture signifies good luck and prosperity.
Frequently Asked Questions about 大象
You can say '小象' (xiǎo xiàng), where '小' means 'small'.
The measure word used for elephants is '只' (zhī), so you would say '一只大象' (yī zhī dà xiàng) for 'one elephant'.
In general, 大象 refers to elephants in general, but you can specify '亚洲象' (yà zhōu xiàng) for Asian elephants and '非洲象' (fēi zhōu xiàng) for African elephants.
