米

mǐ
HSK 3
#575 most
frequent character
rice
noun

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

米 is a picture of rice grains. That was also its first meaning, “rice grains”. It grew to mean grain in general. The sense “meter” was borrowed by sound alone.

Drawn as: rice grains

米 as a component in other characters

meaning34 characters
精料粮糊粗粉粒粹糖糟粘糕粟粥糙籽
sound7 characters
迷眯咪麋敉脒洣
picture8 characters
屎粱糠籴粜粝糗匊
empty2 characters
类娄

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Example Sentences

我喜欢吃米饭。
wǒ xǐhuān chī mǐfàn 。
I like to eat rice.
米是中国的主食之一。
mǐ shì zhōngguó de zhǔshí zhīyī 。
Rice is one of the staple foods in China.
市场上有很多种类的米。
shìchǎng shàngyǒu hěnduō zhǒnglèi de mǐ 。
There are many kinds of rice in the market.

Words with similar meanings

稻米dàomǐ
paddy rice
More specific term referring to rice that is still in its husk.
米粒mǐlì
grain of rice
Refers specifically to the individual grains, but contextually synonymous.

Words Starting With 米

米饭mǐ fàn
(cooked) rice

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Public Lists with 米

Food (General)
Broad food-related words, general cuisine terms, eating habits.
HSK 3
All words for the HSK 3 test
Plants
Trees, flowers, crops, herbs, and other plant-related terms.