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蚂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蚂mādragonflyn, 9 strokes, radical 虫, rank #72816, Very Hard
蚂māantn, 9 strokes, radical 虫, rank #72816, Very Hard
蚂māgrasshoppern, 9 strokes, radical 虫, rank #72816, Very Hard
蚂māant; leechn, 9 strokes, radical 虫, rank #72816, Very Hard
蚂mǎdragonflyn, 9 strokes, radical 虫, rank #72816, Very Hard
蚂mǎantn, 9 strokes, radical 虫, rank #72816, Very Hard
蚂mǎgrasshoppern, 9 strokes, radical 虫, rank #72816, Very Hard
蚂mǎant; leechn, 9 strokes, radical 虫, rank #72816, Very Hard
蚂màdragonflyn, 9 strokes, radical 虫, rank #72816, Very Hard
蚂màantn, 9 strokes, radical 虫, rank #72816, Very Hard
蚂màgrasshoppern, 9 strokes, radical 虫, rank #72816, Very Hard
蚂màant; leechn, 9 strokes, radical 虫, rank #72816, Very Hard
mā(ma1)ma
primary
T1
  1. 1dragonfly
  2. 2ant
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蚂(螞)mā(ma1)

The character 蚂 (mā) primarily refers to an ant, a small insect known for its social behavior and ability to work in groups. It can also be used more broadly to describe other similar small insects or pests, though its most common usage is specifically for ants in everyday conversation.

Strokes9Radical虫Frequency#72816DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, ants are often associated with hard work and teamwork, as they are known for their industriousness in nature. This makes the word 蚂 particularly relevant when discussing themes of cooperation and diligence.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small ant marching along the ground. The character 蚂 has the radical '虫' (insect) at the bottom, reminding you that it relates to insects. The '马' (mǎ) at the top sounds like 'ma,' which can help you recall the sound of the word while picturing the busy little ant.

Meanings of 蚂

mā(ma1)
primary
1dragonfly
2ant
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 蚂 means.

About 蚂

蚂Simplified
螞Traditional
9Strokes
虫Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蚂

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蚂

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AI Study Notes for 蚂

Usage Notes

It's important to use 蚂 specifically for ants and not confuse it with similar insects, as learners might mistakenly use it interchangeably with other insect names. This word is generally informal and commonly used in daily conversation. Be careful with pronunciation, as tone mistakes can change meanings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蚂 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners at HSK 1 or 2 as it relates to nature and animals. Students should focus on recognizing and using this word in context when talking about insects, especially in descriptive phrases.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蚂 with similar characters like 蚊 (wén), which means mosquito. A common mistake is saying 蚂 for mosquitoes; instead, use 蚊 for that context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蚂

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Jason Explains 蚂 to You

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Etymology of 蚂

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 马 represents the sound. Simplified form of 螞.

Memory Hint

insect

Semantic (meaning)虫
+
Phonetic (sound)马
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

蚂 = 虫 + 马. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蚂

IDS Structure⿰虫马
蚂Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
马Ma3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蚂?

How to say dragonfly in Chinese

“dragonfly” in Chinese is蚂mā

The character 蚂 (mā) primarily refers to an ant, a small insect known for its social behavior and ability to work in groups. It can also be used more broadly to describe other similar small insects or pests, though its most common usage is specifically for ants in everyday conversation.

When to use 蚂

It's important to use 蚂 specifically for ants and not confuse it with similar insects, as learners might mistakenly use it interchangeably with other insect names. This word is generally informal and commonly used in daily conversation. Be careful with pronunciation, as tone mistakes can change meanings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蚂 with similar characters like 蚊 (wén), which means mosquito. A common mistake is saying 蚂 for mosquitoes; instead, use 蚊 for that context.

Write 蚂

蚂

Practice writing 蚂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 蚂

蚂 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

一条线拴俩____蚱.

The dooms of the two are closely linked.

Example Sentences for 蚂 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
一条线拴俩蚂蚱.

yī tiáo xiàn shuān liǎng mǎ zhà.

The dooms of the two are closely linked.
Exercise 1 of 1

Rebuild it

Rebuild it: “The dooms of the two are closely linked.”

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Word Family of 蚂

Words Containing This Character7
蚂蚁mǎyǐant螞蟻
蚂蚱grasshopper螞蚱
热锅上的蚂蚁anxious熱鍋上的螞蟻
蚂māant螞
蚂蟥leech螞蟥
蚂蜂hornet螞蜂
蚂螂dragonfly螞螂
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 蚂

What does 蚂蚁 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蚂

No, 蚂 is mostly used in informal contexts, especially in spoken language.

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