Meaning
Figure, statue, or image — often used for visual representations like photographs, figures, mental images, or symbolic statues.
- 像 — image / statue
- 仏像 — Buddha statue
- 銅像 — bronze statue
- 肖像 — portrait
- 映像 — video image / projection
- 想像 — imagination
- 現像 — photo development
- 心像 — mental image
This kanji is a 形声 (keisei) character, combining the semantic element 人 (person) with the phonetic component 象 (ショウ / ゾウ). It suggests “the form of a person,” hence the meanings related to images, figures, and likenesses.
仏像が 寺に 安置されています。
A Buddha statue is enshrined at the temple.
彼は 自分の理想像を 追い求めている。
He is pursuing his ideal self-image.
The main on-yomi reading is ゾウ. The kun-yomi かたち・かたどる is rare and usually found in classical contexts or compounds.