偶像
ǒuxiàng · HSK 5
idol
🗿 偶 (idol/image) + 像 (likeness) = idol/image-likeness
偶 means a figure or effigy (also 'pair/couple'); 像 means likeness or statue. Together they name a carved figure people worship — an idol. Same word covers religious idols and modern pop idols.
像 — person radical 亻 + elephant 象
Originally 象 alone meant 'elephant' and by extension 'image/likeness,' since elephants were rare and people knew them mainly through depictions. The 亻 (person) radical was later added to specialize the meaning as 'image, likeness, resemble,' leaving 象 for the animal itself.