In Japanese, "elephant" is expressed as 象 (ぞう, zō), a straightforward term commonly used in conversation. For example, you might say 象は大きい (zō wa ōkii) to mean "The elephant is big." When referring to a specific elephant, the counter for large animals, 一頭 (ittō), can be used, as in 一頭の象 (ittō no zō), meaning "one elephant." In more playful or affectionate contexts, such as when speaking to children, the term ゾウさん (zō-san) is often used, adding a sense of charm and endearment with the honorific -さん. This flexibility makes the term 象 suitable for various situations in everyday Japanese.