大象
dàxiàng · HSK 5
elephant
🐘 大 (big) + 象 (elephant) — literally 'big elephant'
象 alone already means elephant; adding 大 (big) is the standard disyllabic form modern Mandarin prefers. The character 象 is an ancient pictograph of the animal, with trunk, head, and legs traced in the strokes.
大 — pictograph of a person with arms outstretched
大 is a pictograph showing a person standing with arms and legs spread wide. The outstretched arms suggest 'big' or 'great', extending from the literal image of a large stance to abstract meanings like important or grand. It is one of the oldest characters, found on oracle bones.