Refers to the material from elephant tusks, used in crafts, piano keys, and traditional art. Also appears in compound terms like 象牙の塔 (ivory tower).
象牙の取引は国際的に規制されている。
The trade of ivory is internationally regulated.
This piano's keys used to be made of ivory.
この印鑑は象牙でできている。
This personal seal is made of ivory.
The craftsman carved the ivory into a beautiful statue.
A man who tried to smuggle ivory was arrested.
牙 is the general word for a fang or tusk on any animal, while 象牙 refers specifically to the ivory material taken from an elephant's tusk.
ivory-like plastic; synthetic ivory
ivory-white; ivory color
dentin; dentine
ivory trade
ivory palm
ivory carving; ivory work
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency news term.
Composed of 象 (elephant) and 牙 (tusk, fang). The reading ぞうげ is a straightforward compound of the on'yomi readings.