蟻(あり)

あり

noun

ant

1. ant

A small social insect that lives in organized colonies. Known for their industriousness and teamwork.

Ants are swarming around the sugar.

群(むら)がる = to swarm, to gather

Ants can carry many times their own body weight.

A long line of ants stretched across the ground.

Ants got into the kitchen, so I found their nest and exterminated them.

Despite their small bodies, ants work together with their companions to carry large food back to the nest.

蟻(あり)の行列(ぎょうれつ): a line of ants
蟻(あり)の巣(す): ant nest, anthill
蟻地獄(ありじごく): antlion pit; figuratively, a situation one cannot escape
働(はたら)き蟻(あり): worker ant; also a hard-working person
蟻(あり)の一穴(いっけつ): a small flaw that leads to disaster (from 千丈(せんじょう)の堤(つつみ)も蟻(あり)の一穴(いっけつ)から, a great dike can be breached through one ant hole)

Counted with 匹(ひき).

core

Added 2026.1.14 20:02 · Revised 2026.10.10 22:17

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