Zōsan: A Gentle Japanese Song About an Elephant’s Love

Zōsan is one of Japan’s most well-known and beloved nursery songs. With its short, easy-to-remember lyrics, this song tells a tender story of a baby elephant who is proud of its long nose — just like its mother’s — and expresses its love for her.

This song is perfect for very young children learning Japanese. Its repetitive structure and emotional warmth make it ideal for both language development and cultural learning.

Japanese Lyrics

ぞうさん
ぞうさん
おはなが　ながいのね
そうよ
かあさんも　ながいのよ

ぞうさん
ぞうさん
だれが　すきなの
あのね
かあさんが　すきなのよ

Romaji (Latin Alphabet)

zōsan
zōsan
ohanaga nagai no ne
sō yo
kāsan mo nagai no yo

zōsan
zōsan
dare ga suki na no
ano ne
kāsan ga suki na no yo

English Translation (Simple Interpretation)

Elephant, elephant
You have such a long nose.
Yes, I do —
My mom has a long nose too.

Elephant, elephant
Who do you love most?
Well,
I love my mother.

Why This Song Is So Meaningful

At first glance, Zōsan may seem like just a cute animal song. But at its heart, it’s about admiration, pride, and unconditional love — values that resonate with both children and adults. It encourages kids to feel proud of their families and where they come from.

The simple vocabulary — zōsan (elephant), ohanaga (nose), kāsan (mother), suki (like/love) — makes it a great tool for building beginner-level Japanese language skills. The natural repetition also helps learners remember the new words more easily.

Learning with Dinolingo

Songs like Zōsan come to life in Dinolingo’s Japanese language program for kids. Designed for ages 2–14, Dinolingo includes songs, interactive videos, speaking practice, flashcards, and printable worksheets. Kids can learn animal names, emotions, and simple sentence structures through music and play.

Whether you’re using the web version or the iOS/Android app, Dinolingo makes learning Japanese fun, visual, and accessible. The platform also features parent dashboards, offline resources, and age-appropriate lesson plans for young learners at every stage.

Zōsan is more than just a nursery rhyme, it’s a song about family, identity, and love. Singing this song helps children connect to the Japanese language in a warm, emotional way, while gently building vocabulary through repetition and rhythm. It’s a small tune with a big heart.