About
The character 蛇 consists of the radical 虫 (huǐ/chóng) on the left, which categorizes it among insects, reptiles, and creeping animals. The right side features the phonetic component 它 (tā), an ancient pictograph of a snake that later became a pronoun. The character refers specifically to a snake or serpent. Its structure pairs the general class of creeping creatures with a phonetic element that historically depicted the animal itself. The meaning has remained closely tied to the reptile, though it can metaphorically suggest something winding, malicious, or treacherous.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这是一条小蛇。
我看到了一条蛇。
蛇在草地上爬行。
蛇是一种爬行动物。
蛇的皮肤非常光滑。
小心，那条蛇可能有毒。
在动物园里，我们看到了许多蛇。
研究人员正在研究蛇的毒液。