About
The character 虺 historically denotes a venomous snake or viper, commonly appearing in classical literature to describe dangerous reptiles. Structurally, it features the insect/reptile radical 虫 at the bottom, placing it within the semantic category of creeping creatures, while the upper component 兀 (wù) provides the phonetic guidance for its pronunciation. Beyond this literal zoological sense, the character acquired figurative uses in classical texts, often evoking treacherous situations, malicious individuals, or hidden dangers. It occasionally serves as an archaic phonetic loan in historical poetry, though its primary association with venomous snakes remains dominant throughout its lexicographical history.
Etymology Hide
