蟻
ari[a̠ɾʲi]
The Japanese word for "ant" is 蟻 (ari).
The term refers to the insect commonly known as an ant.
Meaning: insect (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
ari
Did you know?
- The word 蟻 is used in the term 蟻走り (ari-bashiri) to describe the tiny cracks or streaks found in certain types of traditional pottery glaze.
- Japanese has a specific term 蟻腰 (ari-goshi) which literally means 'ant waist' to describe a very slender waistline.
- The Japanese word 蟻 was borrowed from Middle Chinese, and its ancient pronunciation is still echoed in the modern Cantonese word 'ngai⁵'.
Examples in context
- 蟻が列を作っています。ari ga retsu o tsukutte imasu.Ants are making a line.
- 足元に蟻がいます。ashimoto ni ari ga imasu.There is an ant at my feet.
- その蟻はとても小さいです。sono ari wa totemo chiisai desu.That ant is very small.
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are looking at the ground in a park.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵、見て。蟻がたくさんいるよ。Himari, mite. Ari ga takusan iru yo.Himari, look. There are many ants.
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ。健太、あんなに小さいの？Honto da. Kenta, anna ni chiisai no?You're right. Kenta, are they that small?
- 健太 Kentaうん、すごく小さい蟻だね。Un, sugoku chiisai ari dane.Yeah, they are very small ants.
- 陽葵 Himari一生懸命歩いているね。Isshoukenmei aruite iru ne.They are walking so hard.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ant” translations and entries 蟻, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 蟻, CC BY-SA 4.0.
