鼹 (yǎn) - Mole — refers to small burrowing mammals of & also used in names for mole rats and

鼹Tone 3

yǎn ｜ 23 strokes ｜ radical:

妍嬿

鼹 · yǎn

Mole — refers to small burrowing mammals of the family Talpidae;

also used in names for mole rats and other subterranean rodents.

Mole — refers to small burrowing mammals ofalso used in names for mole rats and

Usage highlights

MoleMole cricketMole ratStarBlind moleMole hole

Synonyms

  • 鼠— rat/mouse (broader category)
  • 地鼠— ground squirrel/gopher

Antonyms

  • 鹰— eagle (predator from above)
  • 天— sky/heaven (opposite of underground)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • A mole dug tunnels in the garden (鼹鼠在花园里挖洞).
  • The blind mole rat is a fascinating creature (盲鼹鼠是一种迷人的生物).
  • He studied the anatomy of the star-nosed mole (他研究了星鼻鼹的解剖结构).
  • Moles are rarely seen above ground (鼹鼠很少在地面上被看到).

Collocations

  • Mole(鼹鼠)
  • Mole cricket(蝼蛄)
  • Mole rat(鼹形鼠)
  • Star-nosed mole(星鼻鼹)
  • Blind mole(盲鼹)
  • Mole hole(鼹鼠洞)

Idioms

  • Like a mole cricket and a quail(鼹鼠饮河)
  • Mole's measure of the sea(鼹鼠测海)
  • The mole cricket laughs at the river(鼹鼠笑河)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, moles symbolize limited perspective and shortsightedness due to their subterranean lifestyle.
  • The character appears in classical texts like Zhuangzi, where it represents creatures with restricted understanding of the world.
  • Moles are often used metaphorically to criticize people with narrow views or limited knowledge.

FAQ