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The character 虺 is a noun for a venomous snake, frequently used in classical literature to describe dangerous reptiles. Structurally, it has the radical 虫 (insect/reptile) at the bottom, marking it as a creeping creature (including insects and snakes), and the phonetic component 兀 (wù) above. Figuratively, it came to denote treachery, malice, or hidden dangers. It occasionally served as an archaic phonetic loan in poetry, though its primary meaning remains 'venomous snake'.
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