Meaning and Usage
The word "像" (ぞう) primarily means "statue" or "image," referring to a physical sculpture or a representation of a person, animal, or object. It is commonly used when talking about statues in parks, museums, or public places.
Common Contexts
- Physical statues or sculptures: "象の像" (elephant statue), "有名な彫刻家の像" (statue by a famous sculptor).
- Figurative resemblance: It can also be used to describe someone's appearance resembling another person, often in the phrase "〜の像に似ている" (resembles the image/statue of ~).
Collocations and Patterns
- "〜の像" (〜のぞう): "statue of ~"; used to specify what the statue represents.
- "〜に似ている像" (〜ににているぞう): "statue/image resembling ~"; used to describe resemblance.
Register and Nuance
"像" is a neutral noun used in both formal and informal contexts. It is not used for digital images or photos; for those, words like "画像" (がぞう) or "写真" (しゃしん) are used instead.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "像" (statue/image) with "象" (elephant), which are homophones but different kanji and meanings. Pay attention to the kanji to avoid confusion.