蚁

蟻

yǐ

义 + 虫

Frequency#2517

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

The traditional character "蟻" for ant combines the insect radical "虫" with the phonetic component "義" to signify both its category and sound, while the simplified form "蚁" retains the same radical but replaces the right side with the graphically simpler and phonetically similar component "义". This structural shift from a complex to a more streamlined form reflects a broader pattern in the writing system aimed at reducing stroke count, and the character's meaning has consistently denoted ants throughout its recorded use without expanding into other semantic areas.

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