蚂 mǎ ant
ant; leech
How to remember 蚂: 虫 insect + 马 horse = ant. At the picnic a tiny insect climbs onto the toy horse, and the little boy shouts that his pony has been stolen by an ant.
Component breakdown
蚂 = 虫 insect + 马 horse
- 虫 insect
- 马 horse
At the picnic a tiny insect climbs onto the toy horse, and the little boy shouts that his pony has been stolen by an ant.
How it is used
- Ant - the first half of 蚂蚁 (mǎyǐ), ant.
- Also in 蚂蟥 (mǎhuáng) leech and, with tone change, 蚂蚱 (màzha) grasshopper - the character shifts.
- 蚂蚁搬家 (mǎyǐ bānjiā) 'ants moving house' = folk sign of coming rain.
- Brand name 蚂蚁 (Ant Group); otherwise a bound morpheme.