米
mǐ · rice💡 How to pronounce
m → like the 'm' in 'moon'. ǐ → like 'ee' but with a falling-rising tone — dip down, then up.
📖 The Story
米 is the grain that feeds half the world. The character looks like a handful of rice grains scattered on a table — it hasn't changed much in 3,000 years. Rice has been the staple food in China since ancient times.
🎬 In Culture Today
Rice is at the center of every Chinese meal. In southern China, people eat rice every day. In Chinese culture, wasting rice is considered a sin — it's a symbol of life and labor.
📝 Example Sentences
米饭是主食。
Rice is a staple food.
我喜欢吃米粉。
I like eating rice noodles.