螘
ant
Strokes16
Readings
On'yomi
- ギ
Kun'yomi
- あり
Meaning
螘 centers on the ant, a small insect. The meaning is straightforward and specific to this creature.
Study
Etymology
螘 combines 虫 (insect) with 豈, which likely contributes the sound. The character is a phono-semantic compound for ant.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 虫 is the insect radical. The right side 豈 looks like a mound with something on top, like an anthill. Picture ants crawling around their anthill.
Reading mnemonic
For ギ, imagine a tiny ant wearing a gi (martial arts uniform) as it marches: gi -> ギ.