蚁 yǐ ant
How to remember 蚁: 虫 insect + 义 right conduct = ant. The boy watches one tiny insect carry a crumb home to share, and his teacher calls it right conduct from a humble ant.
Component breakdown
蚁 = 虫 insect + 义 right conduct
- 虫 insect
- 义 right conduct
The boy watches one tiny insect carry a crumb home to share, and his teacher calls it right conduct from a humble ant.
How it is used
- Ant - bound in 蚂蚁 (mǎyǐ), the everyday word for ant.
- 蚁 rarely appears alone; it needs 蚂 as its partner.
- Symbolizes something tiny/numerous: 蚁民 = the common masses (lit. 'ant people').
- 热锅上的蚂蚁 (règuō shang de mǎyǐ) = ants on a hot pot - frantic with anxiety.