How to Write 黾 (mǐn) — Meaning “to strive; toad (archaic)”

Imagine a toad with its mouth open (the top square like a mouth) and its legs sprawling (the bottom strokes like legs). The toad is always trying hard to move, so think of it as "striving" — that links the shape to the meaning of making an effort.

Write the top part first: a square-like shape with a horizontal stroke in the middle (like 口 but wider). Then draw the bottom part: a sweeping hook (㇆) followed by two vertical strokes inside and a final horizontal stroke at the bottom. A common mistake is making the top too narrow or forgetting the middle horizontal.

The most common expression is 黾勉 (mǐn miǎn), meaning "to make an effort" or "to strive." You might see it in formal or literary contexts, like 黾勉从事 (to work diligently). 黾穴 (mǐn xué) means "toad hole" and is rare, while 黾池 (mǐn chí) is a place name in Henan province.

黾 is very rare in modern daily Chinese and is not part of the HSK vocabulary. It appears mostly in ancient texts or in the place name 黾池. Culturally, the toad (often called 蟾蜍) symbolizes longevity and wealth in Chinese folklore, though 黾 itself isn't commonly used for that meaning anymore.

Common words containing 黾 include: 黾勉 (mǐn miǎn) — to make an effort; to strive; 黾穴 (mǐn xué) — toad hole; burrow; 黾池 (mǐn chí) — Mianchi (a place in Henan province).