象征 meaning in English

xiàngzhēng

symbol; emblem; to symbolize; to signify; to represent

HSK 5verbnounTraditional 象徵19 strokes

Meaning of 象征

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

xiàngzhēng

symbol; emblem
to symbolize; to signify; to represent

How to use 象征

象征 works as a verb meaning to symbolize and as a noun meaning a symbol. It often appears in the pattern A 象征 B or A 是 B 的象征. Example: 鸽子象征和平。(Gēzi xiàngzhēng hépíng.) The dove symbolizes peace.

象 (xiàng) means an image or likeness, as in 形象 (xíngxiàng), and 征 (zhēng) means a sign. An image that works as a sign is a symbol, so 象征 is something that stands for something else.

Common mistake: Learners often write 象 as 像 (xiàng), because both are pronounced xiàng and are related to likeness. 象征 always uses 象 without the person radical. Also keep the second syllable in the first tone, zhēng, not zhèng.

象征 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

富fù士shì山shān是shì日rì本běn的de象xiàng征zhēng。

Mt. Fuji is a symbol of Japan.

文wén学xué作zuò品pǐn中zhōng常cháng用yòng夜yè来lái香xiāng来lái象xiàng征zhēng思sī念niàn与yǔ柔róu情qíng。

In literary works, night-blooming jasmine is often used to symbolize longing and tenderness.

甚shèn至zhì是shì不bù相xiāng信xìn天tiān主zhǔ教jiào的de人rén也yě把bǎ教jiào皇huáng敬jìng为wèi一yí个gè象xiàng征zhēng性xìng的de领lǐng导dǎo者zhě。

Even people who don't believe in the Catholic church venerate the Pope as a symbolic leader.

被bèi翻fān译yì成chéng多duō种zhǒng语yǔ言yán的de国guó际jì歌gē，在zài世shì界jiè各gè地dì仍réng然rán是shì社shè会huì斗dòu争zhēng的de象xiàng征zhēng。

Translated into many languages, The International has been and is still singing symbol of social struggles around the world.

这zhè条tiáo腰yāo带dài对duì我wǒ来lái说shuō成chéng为wéi了le恐kǒng惧jù的de象xiàng征zhēng。

The belt became a symbol of fear for me.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

象 xiàng · elephant · 11 strokes

征 zhēng · journey · 8 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 象征.

印象	yìnxiàng	impression (sth that stays in one's mind); a memory
对象	duìxiàng	target; object; partner; boyfriend; girlfriend
形象	xíngxiàng	image; form
现象	xiànxiàng	phenomenon; appearance
想象	xiǎngxiàng	to imagine; to envision; imagination
征服	zhēngfú	to conquer; to subdue
特征	tèzhēng	characteristic; diagnostic property
征求	zhēngqiú	to solicit; to seek
大象	dàxiàng	elephant
景象	jǐngxiàng	scene; sight (to behold)
气象	qìxiàng	meteorological condition; weather; meteorology
迹象	jìxiàng	sign; indication; mark; indicator

Questions about 象征

What does 象征 mean?

象征 (xiàngzhēng) means "symbol; emblem; to symbolize; to signify; to represent" and is used as a verb and noun.

How do you write 象征?

象征 is made of 2 characters: 象 (11 strokes), 征 (8 strokes). That is 19 strokes in total.

Is 象征 an HSK word?

Yes. 象征 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

How is 象征 written in traditional Chinese?

In traditional characters, 象征 is written 象徵.

What is the difference between 象征 and 代表?

象征 is about symbolic meaning, like a color or an object standing for an idea. 代表 (dàibiǎo) means to represent in a more literal or official way, such as a person representing a group. You can say 红色象征热情, but you would say 他代表公司.

Can 象征 be used as an adjective?

Yes. 象征 can modify a noun directly, as in 象征意义 (xiàngzhēng yìyì), symbolic meaning. Another example is 象征性 (xiàngzhēngxìng), which means symbolic or token, as in 象征性的费用, a token fee.