蚁

蟻

yǐ

义 + 虫

Definitions

yǐ (noun) ant

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 义 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蟻.

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 义

About

蚁 is the simplified version of the traditional character 蟻. It is formed as a phono-semantic compound, pairing the radical 虫, which appears in many characters for insects, worms, and similar crawling creatures, with the phonetic component 义 (a simplified rendering of 義). This structure directly signals both the meaning category and the approximate pronunciation. The character refers exclusively to the ant, a familiar social insect that lives in varied habitats around the world. By combining a generic biological classifier with a specific sound element, the written symbol unambiguously represents the word for 'ant'.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

地上有很多蚂蚁。

Dì shàng yǒu hěn duō mǎyǐ.

There are many ants on the ground.

蚂蚁在搬运食物。

Mǎyǐ zài bānyùn shíwù.

Ants are carrying food.

花园里聚集了一群蚂蚁。

Huāyuán lǐ jùjí le yī qún mǎyǐ.

A group of ants gathered in the garden.

小小的蚂蚁力量很大。

Xiǎo xiǎo de mǎyǐ lìliàng hěn dà.

Tiny ants have great strength.

白蚁会破坏木头家具。

Báiyǐ huì pòhuài mùtou jiājù.

Termites can damage wooden furniture.

人群像蚂蚁一样拥挤。

Rénqún xiàng mǎyǐ yīyàng yōngjǐ.

The crowd is as crowded as ants.

由于下雨，蚂蚁都躲进了洞里。

Yóuyú xià yǔ, mǎyǐ dōu duǒ jìn le dòng lǐ.

Because of the rain, the ants all hid in their holes.

科学家研究了蚂蚁的社会结构。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū le mǎyǐ de shèhuì jiégòu.

Scientists have studied the social structure of ants.

Related Characters

Component: 义

Component: 虫

蚁