蛇

蛇 U+86C7, 蛇 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-86C7 ← 蛆 [U+86C6] CJK Unified Ideographs 蛈 → [U+86C8]

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

蛇 (Kangxi radical 142, 虫+5, 11 strokes, cangjie input 中戈十心 (LIJP), four-corner 5311₁, composition ⿰虫它)

Derived characters

• 㵃, 𨫯, 𬠶

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 1080, character 20
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 32964
• Dae Jaweon: page 1548, character 36
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 4, page 2845, character 8
• Unihan data for U+86C7

Chinese

simp. and trad.		蛇
alternative forms		它 虵 𢕷 𣙛 𤜣 它 虵 𢕷 𣙛 𤜣 𥝀 𧉮

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 蛇
Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Qin slip script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (它) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
佗	*l̥ʰaːl, *l'aːl
拕	*l̥ʰaːl, *l'aːlʔ
它	*l̥ʰaːl
蛇	*l̥ʰaːl, *ɦljaːl, *lal
袉	*l̥ʰaːlʔ, *l'aːl, *l'aːlʔ
鴕	*l'aːl
駝	*l'aːl
紽	*l'aːl
鮀	*l'aːl
陀	*l'aːl
沱	*l'aːl, *l'aːlʔ
跎	*l'aːl
詑	*l'aːl, *l'aːlʔ, *hlel, *lal, *l̥ʰoːl
酡	*l'aːl
迱	*l'aːl
舵	*l'aːlʔ
柁	*l'aːlʔ
鉈	*ɦljaːl, *hljal

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l̥ʰaːl, *ɦljaːl, *lal) : semantic 虫 + phonetic 它 (OC *l̥ʰaːl). 它 was also the original pictographic form of this character.

Etymology 1

Unclear. Various theories have been proposed:

• Starostin sets up Proto-Sino-Tibetan *lăj (“snake”), comparing this with Mizo hlai-ba (“a species of snake”) and Jingpho palai (“a species of iguana”). He also compares it to Proto-Kam-Sui *dzuːi² (“snake”). Schuessler (2007) considers these Tibeto-Burman forms to be unrelated.
• Matisoff (2003) relates it to Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-b/m-ruːl (“snake”), but this comparison is no longer held in STEDT.
• Sagart (2005) relates it to Proto-Loloish *lay¹/² (“python”), which STEDT derives from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *g-lja(ŋ/k) (“python”), as well as Proto-Austronesian *bulay (“snake”). Comparison with the Austronesian form has been challenged by Orlandi (2018).
• Schuessler (2007) notes similarity to Proto-Hlai *ljaːɦ (“snake”) (from Pre-Hlai *Cilaːɦ) as well as to Austronesian words, such as Rade ala (“snake”), but considers the Kra-Dai forms to be possible borrowings from Chinese. (He does not seem to address the Austronesian forms directly.) In his view, a more likely relationship is with the /-lé/ in Khmer រលេ (rɔlei, “sinuously, in a twisting or wiggling manner (as a snake swimming)”). In Old Chinese, this also provides the second syllable in 委蛇 (OC *qrol lal, “winding; compliant; graceful”). 蛇 (“the winding thing”) is then a euphemism for common Sino-Tibetan 虺 (OC *hŋlulʔ, “snake”) for taboo reasons.
• Zhengzhang (2011) relates it to Proto-Austronesian *SulaR (“snake”).

Pronunciation 1

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): shé (she²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄕㄜˊ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): se²

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): шә (šə, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): se⁴

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): sie³

• Gan (Wiktionary): sa⁴
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): sà

  (Meixian, Guangdong): sa²

• Jin (Wiktionary): se¹
• Northern Min (KCR): ṳê
• Eastern Min (BUC): siè
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): chôa / siâ

  (Teochew, Peng'im): zua⁵

• Wu (Wugniu)
  • (Northern): ⁶zo / ²zo
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): sha² / she²

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shé
    • Zhuyin: ㄕㄜˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shé
    • Wade–Giles: shê²
    • Yale: shé
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: sher
    • Palladius: шэ (šɛ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂɤ³⁵/
      
  • (Standard Chinese, erhua-ed) (蛇兒／蛇儿)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shér
    • Zhuyin: ㄕㄜˊㄦ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shér
    • Wade–Giles: shê²-ʼrh
    • Yale: shér
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: sher'l
    • Palladius: шэр (šɛr)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂɤɻ³⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: se²
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: se
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɛ²¹/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: шә (šə, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂə²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: se⁴
    • Yale: sèh
    • Cantonese Pinyin: se⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: sé⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɛː²¹/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: sie³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /siɛ²²/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: sa⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sa³⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sà
    • Hakka Romanization System: saˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: sa²
    • Sinological IPA: /sa¹¹/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: sa²
    • Sinological IPA: /sa¹¹/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: se¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /sɤ¹¹/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: ṳê
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /yɛ³³/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: siè
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sie⁵³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese, Jinjiang, Yongchun, Philippines, Medan)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chôa
    • Tâi-lô: tsuâ
    • Phofsit Daibuun: zoaa
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /t͡sua²³/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡sua¹³/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taipei, Jinjiang, Yongchun, Philippines): /t͡sua²⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siâ
    • Tâi-lô: siâ
    • Phofsit Daibuun: siaa
    • IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taipei): /sia²⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /sia²³/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /sia¹³/

Note:

• chôa - vernacular;
• siâ - literary.

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: zua⁵
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tsuâ
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sua⁵⁵/
• Wu
  • (Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁶zo
    • MiniDict: zo^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³zo
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /zo²³/
  • (Suzhou)
    • Wugniu: ²zo
    • MiniDict: zo^平
    • Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /zo²²³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: sha² / she²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /ʂa̠¹³/, /ʂɤ̞¹³/
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /sa̠¹³/, /sɤ̞¹³/

Note:

• sha2 - vernacular;
• she2 - literary.

---

• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 蛇
Mandarin	Beijing	/ʂɤ³⁵/
	Harbin	/ʂɤ²⁴/
	Tianjin	/ʂɑ⁴⁵/ /sɑ⁴⁵/ /ʂɤ⁴⁵/ /sɤ⁴⁵/
	Jinan	/ʂa⁴²/
	Qingdao	/ʃə⁴²/
	Zhengzhou	/ʂʐ̩ɛ⁴²/
	Xi'an	/ʂɤ²⁴/
	Xining	/ʂɛ²⁴/
	Yinchuan	/ʂə⁵³/
	Lanzhou	/ʂə⁵³/
	Ürümqi	/ʂɤ⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/sɤ²¹³/
	Chengdu	/se³¹/
	Guiyang	/se²¹/
	Kunming	/ʂə³¹/
	Nanjing	/ʂe²⁴/
	Hefei	/ʂe⁵⁵/
Jin	Taiyuan	/sɤ¹¹/
	Pingyao	/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩e̞¹³/
	Hohhot	/sɤ³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/zo²³/
	Suzhou	/zo¹³/
	Hangzhou	/d͡zz̩ʷei²¹³/
	Wenzhou	/ze³¹/
Hui	Shexian	/ɕie⁴⁴/ /ɕia⁴⁴/
	Tunxi	/ɕia⁴⁴/
Xiang	Changsha	/ʂə¹³/ /ʂa¹³/
	Xiangtan	/ʂɒ¹²/
Gan	Nanchang	/sɑ⁴⁵/
Hakka	Meixian	/sa¹¹/
	Taoyuan	/ʃɑ¹¹/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/sɛ²¹/
	Nanning	/sɛ²¹/
	Hong Kong	/sɛ²¹/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/sia³⁵/ /t͡sua³⁵/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/sie⁵³/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/yɛ³³/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/t͡sua⁵⁵/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/tua³¹/

---

• Middle Chinese: zyae, tha

Rime
Character	蛇	蛇
Reading #	3/3	2/3
Initial (聲)	船 (27)	透 (6)
Final (韻)	麻 (100)	歌 (94)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open	Open
Division (等)	III	I
Fanqie	食遮切	託何切
Baxter	zyae	tha
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ʑia/	/tʰɑ/
Pan Wuyun	/ʑia/	/tʰɑ/
Shao Rongfen	/ʑia/	/tʰɑ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ʑia/	/tʰa/
Li Rong	/d͡ʑia/	/tʰɑ/
Wang Li	/d͡ʑĭa/	/tʰɑ/
Bernard Karlgren	/d͡ʑʰi̯a/	/tʰɑ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	shé	tuō
Expected Cantonese Reflex	se4	to1

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*Cə.lAj/

  (Zhengzhang): /*ɦljaːl/, /*l̥ʰaːl/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	蛇
Reading #	1/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	shé
Middle Chinese	‹ zyæ ›
Old Chinese	/*Cə.lAj/
English	snake
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	蛇	蛇
Reading #	2/3	1/3
No.	12232	12211
Phonetic component	它	它
Rime group	歌	歌
Rime subdivision	1	1
Corresponding MC rime	蛇	佗
Old Chinese	/*ɦljaːl/	/*l̥ʰaːl/
Notes		注説文同它

Definitions

蛇

1. snake; serpent (Classifier: 條／条 m c; 尾 m mn)

   • 耶和華神對女人說：「你做的是甚麼事呢？」女人說：「那蛇引誘我，我就吃了。」 [MSC, trad.]
     耶和华神对女人说：「你做的是什么事呢？」女人说：「那蛇引诱我，我就吃了。」 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 新標點和合本 (Chinese Union Version with New Punctuation), 創世記 (Genesis) 3:13

     Yēhéhuá Shén duì nǚrén shuō: “Nǐ zuò de shì shènme shì ne?” Nǚrén shuō: “Nà shé yǐnyòu wǒ, wǒ jiù chī le.” [Pinyin]

     And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

   • c. 3rd century BCE, 荀子 [Xunzi], 荀子 [Xunzi]:

     蟹六跪而二螯，非蛇蟺之穴無可寄託者，用心躁也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     蟹六跪而二螯，非蛇蟺之穴无可寄托者，用心躁也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     Xiè liù guì ér èr áo, fēi shé shàn zhī xué wú kě jì tuō zhě, yòng xīn zào yě. [Pinyin]

     A crab has six feet and two pincers, but it cannot live without the holes of snakes and eels, it is because it has an uncalm heart.

2. illegal immigrant

   人蛇  ―  rénshé  ―  illegal immigrant

   蛇頭／蛇头  ―  shétóu  ―  people smuggler

3. (Cantonese) to shirk one's duty; to be lazy on the job
4. (Cantonese, poker) straight
5. (regional, pathology) herpes zoster; shingles

   生蛇 [Cantonese]  ―  saang¹ se⁴ [Jyutping]  ―  to have shingles

   蛇針／蛇针 [Cantonese]  ―  se⁴ zam¹ [Jyutping]  ―  shingles vaccine

6. a surname

Synonyms

• (snake):

Dialectal synonyms of 蛇 (“snake”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		蛇
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		蛇
Taxonomic name		蛇
Mandarin	Beijing	蛇, 長蟲
	Taiwan	蛇
	Tianjin	長蟲
	Chengde	長蟲
	Tangshan	蛇, 長蟲
	Cangzhou	長蟲
	Baoding	長蟲
	Shijiazhuang	長蟲
	Ulanhot	長蟲
	Tongliao	長蟲
	Chifeng	蛇, 長蟲
	Bayanhot	蛇
	Hulunbuir (Hailar)	蛇, 長蟲, 大蟲
	Heihe	蛇, 長蟲
	Qiqihar	蛇, 長蟲
	Harbin	蛇, 長蟲
	Jiamusi	蛇, 長蟲
	Baicheng	蛇, 長蟲
	Changchun	長蟲
	Tonghua	長蟲
	Shenyang	蛇, 長蟲
	Dandong	蛇, 長蟲
	Jinzhou	蛇, 長蟲
	Dalian	長蟲
	Yantai	長蟲
	Yantai (Muping)	長蟲
	Qingdao	長蟲
	Lijin	長蟲
	Zhucheng	長蟲
	Jinan	長蟲, 蛇
	Jining	長蟲
	Luoyang	長蟲
	Wanrong	蛇
	Shangqiu	蛇, 長蟲
	Yuanyang	蛇
	Zhengzhou	長蟲
	Lingbao	蛇, 長蟲
	Xinyang	長蟲
	Baihe	蛇, 長蟲
	Hanzhong	蛇, 長蟲
	Xi'an	蛇, 長蟲
	Baoji	長蟲
	Yinchuan	蛇, 長蟲
	Tianshui	蛇, 長蟲
	Lanzhou	蛇, 長蟲
	Dunhuang	蛇, 長蟲
	Xining	蛇
	Hami	長蟲
	Ürümqi	長蟲, 蛇
	Wuhan	蛇, 長蟲
	Yichang	蛇
	Xiangyang	蛇, 長蟲
	Tianmen	蛇
	Hong'an	蛇
	Chengdu	蛇, 梭老二, 長蟲
	Nanchong	蛇
	Dazhou	長蟲
	Hanyuan	蛇
	Xichang	蛇
	Zigong	蛇
	Chongqing	蛇, 螂雞兒
	Guiyang	老蛇
	Zunyi	蛇
	Bijie	老蛇
Liping	蛇
Zhaotong	老梭
Dali	蛇
Kunming	蛇, 長蟲
Mengzi	蛇
Guilin	蛇
Liuzhou	蛇, 溜子 dated
Jishou	蛇
Changde	蛇
Anqing	蛇
Xuzhou	蛇, 長蟲
Fuyang	蛇
Wuhu	蛇
Yangzhou	蛇
Lianyungang	蛇, 長蟲
Lianshui	蛇
Nanjing	蛇兒, 蛇
Hefei	蛇
Nantong	蛇, 長蟲
Malaysia	蛇
Singapore	蛇
Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)	蛇
Cantonese	Guangzhou	蛇
	Hong Kong	蛇
	Hong Kong (San Tin Weitou)	蛇
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)	蛇
	Hong Kong (Ting Kok)	蛇
	Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)	蛇
	Macau	蛇
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	蛇
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	蛇
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	蛇
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	蛇
	Foshan	蛇
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	蛇
	Foshan (Shunde)	蛇
	Foshan (Sanshui)	蛇
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	蛇
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	蛇
	Zhuhai (Qianshan)	蛇
	Zhuhai (Doumen, Shangheng Tanka)	蛇
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	蛇
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	蛇
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	蛇
	Taishan	蛇
	Kaiping (Chikan)	蛇
	Enping (Niujiang)	蛇
	Heshan (Yayao)	蛇
	Dongguan	蛇
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	蛇
	Shenzhen (Dapeng)	蛇
	Shaoguan	蛇
	Yunfu	蛇
	Yangjiang	蛇
	Xinyi	蛇
	Lianjiang	蛇
	Nanning	蛇
	Wuzhou	蛇
	Yulin	蛇, 長蟲
	Hepu (Lianzhou)	蛇
	Danzhou	蛇
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	蛇
	Singapore (Guangfu)	蛇
	Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	蛇
Gan	Nanchang	蛇
	Lichuan	蛇
	Pingxiang	蛇
Hakka	Meixian	蛇哥
	Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)	蛇, 蛇哥
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	蛇
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	蛇
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	蛇
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	蛇
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	蛇
	Wuhua (Changbu)	蛇
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	蛇
	Conghua (Lütian)	蛇
	Jiexi	蛇
	Luhe	蛇
	Yudu	蛇
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	蛇哥
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	蛇哥
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	蛇, 蛇哥
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	蛇, 蛇哥
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	蛇
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	蛇
	Hong Kong	蛇哥
	Luchuan (Daqiao)	蛇
	Sabah (Longchuan)	蛇哥, 蛇
	Senai (Huiyang)	蛇
	Singkawang	蛇
Huizhou	Jixi	蛇
	Shexian	蛇
	Tunxi	蛇
	Xiuning	蛇
	Yixian	蛇
	Qimen	蛇
	Wuyuan	蛇
	Fuliang	蛇
	Dexing	蛇
Jin	Taiyuan	蛇
	Pingyao	蛇
	Yangyuan	蛇
	Datong	蛇, 皮條
	Xinzhou	蛇
	Lishi	蛇
	Linfen	蛇
	Changzhi	蛇, 長蟲
	Taibus (Baochang)	蛇
	Linhe	蛇, 長蟲
	Jining	蛇
	Hohhot	蛇
	Baotou	蛇
	Dongsheng	蛇
	Haibowan	蛇
	Erenhot	蛇
	Pingshan	長蟲
	Zhangjiakou	蛇, 長蟲
	Handan	蛇, 長蟲
	Linzhou	蛇
	Suide	蛇
Northern Min	Jian'ou	蛇
	Jian'ou (Dikou)	蛇
	Zhenghe (Zhenqian)	蛇
	Pucheng (Shibei)	蛇
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	老蛇, 蛇
	Changle	老蛇
	Fuqing	老蛇
	Yongtai	老蛇
	Gutian	老蛇
	Fu'an	老蛇
	Ningde	老蛇
	Shouning	老蛇
	Zhouning	老蛇
	Fuding	老蛇
	Matsu	老蛇
Southern Min	Xiamen	蛇
	Quanzhou	蛇
	Jinjiang	蛇
	Yongchun	蛇
	Zhangzhou	蛇
	Dongshan	蛇
	Taipei	蛇
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	蛇
	Kaohsiung	蛇
	Yilan	蛇
	Changhua (Lukang)	蛇
	Taichung	蛇
	Taichung (Wuqi)	蛇
	Tainan	蛇
	Taitung	蛇
	Hsinchu	蛇
	Kinmen	蛇
	Penghu (Magong)	蛇
	Penang (Hokkien)	蛇
	Singapore (Hokkien)	蛇
	Manila (Hokkien)	蛇
	Medan (Hokkien)	蛇
	Zhangping	蛇
	Zhangping (Yongfu)	蛇
	Pingnan (Shangdu)	蛇
	Chaozhou	蛇
	Raoping	蛇
	Shantou	蛇
	Bangkok (Teochew)	蛇
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	蛇
	Singapore (Teochew)	蛇
	Leizhou	蛇
	Wenchang	蛇
	Haikou	蛇
Puxian Min	Putian	大蛇, 蛇
	Xianyou	老蛇
Central Min	Yong'an	蛇
Zhongshan Min	Shaxi (Longdu)	蛇
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	蛇
Northern Pinghua	Guilin (Dahe)	蛇
Shehua	Fu'an	老蛇
	Fuding	蛇
	Luoyuan	蛇
	Sanming	蛇
	Shunchang	蛇
	Hua'an	蛇
	Guixi (Zhangping)	蛇
	Cangnan	蛇
	Jingning	蛇
	Lishui	蛇
	Longyou	蛇
	Chaozhou	蛇
	Fengshun	蛇
Waxiang	Guzhang (Gaofeng)	虺
	Yuanling (Shaojiwan)	虺
	Luxi (Baisha)	虺
Wu	Shanghai	蛇, 水蛇
	Shanghai (Chongming)	蛇
	Suzhou	蛇
	Wuxi	蛇
	Danyang	蛇
	Hangzhou	蛇
	Ningbo	蛇
	Wenzhou	蛇
	Jinhua	蛇
Xiang	Changsha	蛇, 溜子, 臭溜子
	Xiangtan	蛇
	Loudi	蛇
	Shuangfeng	蛇, 溜子
	Quanzhou	蛇

• (straight): 順子／顺子 (shùnzi)
• (shingles):

Dialectal synonyms of 帶狀皰疹 (“herpes zoster; shingles”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		帶狀皰疹
Mandarin	Taiwan	皮蛇
Cantonese	Guangzhou	蛇
	Hong Kong	蛇
Hakka	Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)	蛇
Jin	Xinzhou	纏腰龍
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	緊腰蛇, 纏腰蛇
Southern Min	Xiamen	蛇
	Quanzhou	蛇
	Zhangzhou	蛇

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (蛇):

• → Japanese: 蛇(じゃ) (ja); 蛇(だ) (da)
• → Okinawan: 蛇(じゃー) (jā)
• → Korean: 사(蛇) (sa)
• → Vietnamese: xà (蛇)

Wutunhua: shai

Compounds

• 一蛇二首
• 一龍一蛇／一龙一蛇
• 丈八蛇矛 (Zhàng bā shémáo)
• 五步蛇
• 人蛇 (rénshé)
• 佛口蛇心 (fókǒushéxīn)
• 倒拔蛇
• 兩頭蛇／两头蛇 (liǎngtóushé)
• 四腳蛇／四脚蛇 (sìjiǎoshé)
• 土錦蛇／土锦蛇
• 地土蛇
• 地頭蛇／地头蛇 (dìtóushé)
• 夢蛇／梦蛇
• 封豕長蛇／封豕长蛇
• 屈蛇
• 巨蛇座 (Jùshézuò)
• 巴蛇 (bāshé)
• 巴蛇吞象
• 巴蛇食象
• 常山蛇
• 常山蛇勢／常山蛇势
• 弓影杯蛇
• 弓蛇
• 影中蛇
• 打草驚蛇／打草惊蛇 (dǎcǎojīngshé)
• 拿死蛇
• 捕蛇去齒／捕蛇去齿
• 握蛇騎虎／握蛇骑虎
• 撥草尋蛇／拨草寻蛇
• 斬蛇／斩蛇
• 斬蛇逐鹿／斩蛇逐鹿
• 春蚓秋蛇
• 杯弓蛇影 (bēigōng-shéyǐng)
• 杯蛇鬼車／杯蛇鬼车
• 枳首蛇
• 歲在龍蛇／岁在龙蛇
• 毒蛇 (dúshé)
• 毒蛇猛獸／毒蛇猛兽
• 水蛇 (shuǐshé)
• 水蛇腰 (shuǐshéyāo)
• 海蛇 (hǎishé)
• 海蛇水母
• 為蛇添足／为蛇添足
• 為蛇畫足／为蛇画足
• 牛鬼蛇神 (niúguǐshéshén)
• 畫蛇添足／画蛇添足 (huàshétiānzú)
• 畫蛇著足／画蛇著足
• 白花蛇 (báihuāshé)
• 白蛇
• 白蛇傳／白蛇传 (Báishézhuàn)
• 百步蛇 (bǎibùshé)
• 百節蛇／百节蛇
• 盤蛇／盘蛇
• 盲蛇 (mángshé)
• 眼鏡蛇／眼镜蛇 (yǎnjìngshé)
• 窟裡拔蛇／窟里拔蛇
• 筆走龍蛇／笔走龙蛇 (bǐzǒulóngshé)
• 簷蛇／檐蛇
• 草花蛇
• 蘄蛇／蕲蛇
• 虎頭蛇尾／虎头蛇尾 (hǔtóushéwěi)
• 虺蛇入夢／虺蛇入梦
• 蛇信
• 蛇匪
• 蛇口蜂針／蛇口蜂针
• 蛇吞象
• 蛇心佛口
• 蛇拳
• 蛇木
• 蛇皮松
• 蛇神
• 蛇符
• 蛇紋石／蛇纹石 (shéwénshí)
• 蛇羹 (shégēng)
• 蛇船
• 蛇苺
• 蛇蛻／蛇蜕 (shétuì)
• 蛇蠍／蛇蝎 (shéxiē)
• 蛇蠍心腸／蛇蝎心肠 (shéxiēxīncháng)
• 蛇蠍美人／蛇蝎美人 (shéxiē měirén)
• 蛇行 (shéxíng)
• 蛇足 (shézú)
• 蛇頭／蛇头 (shétóu)
• 蛇頭鼠眼／蛇头鼠眼
• 蛇麻
• 蛇鼠一窩／蛇鼠一窝 (shéshǔyīwō)
• 蛇龍尖／蛇龙尖 (Shélóngjiān)
• 螣蛇 (téngshé)
• 蟒蛇 (mǎngshé)
• 行行蛇蚓
• 赤練蛇／赤练蛇
• 軹首蛇／轵首蛇
• 金蛇
• 銀環蛇／银环蛇 (yínhuánshé)
• 錦蛇／锦蛇 (jǐnshé)
• 靈蛇之珠／灵蛇之珠
• 靈蛇髻／灵蛇髻
• 青蛇 (qīngshé)
• 響尾蛇／响尾蛇 (xiǎngwěishé)
• 飛蛇／飞蛇
• 養虺成蛇／养虺成蛇
• 騰蛇／腾蛇
• 驚蛇入草／惊蛇入草
• 魔術蛇／魔术蛇
• 龍蛇／龙蛇 (lóngshé)
• 龍蛇之章／龙蛇之章
• 龍蛇字／龙蛇字
• 龍蛇混雜／龙蛇混杂 (lóngshéhùnzá)
• 龍蛇渾雜／龙蛇浑杂
• 龍蛇陣／龙蛇阵
• 龍蛇雜處／龙蛇杂处
• 龍蛇飛動／龙蛇飞动
• 龍頭蛇尾／龙头蛇尾
• 龜蛇二將／龟蛇二将

 

Pronunciation 2

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): yí (yi²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄧˊ

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): ji⁴

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): yi³

• Hakka (Meixian, Guangdong): yi²
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): î

  (Teochew, Peng'im): i⁵

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: yí
    • Zhuyin: ㄧˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: yí
    • Wade–Giles: i²
    • Yale: yí
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: yi
    • Palladius: и (i)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /i³⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: ji⁴
    • Yale: yìh
    • Cantonese Pinyin: ji⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: yi⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /jiː²¹/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: yi³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ji²²/
• Hakka
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: yi²
    • Sinological IPA: /i¹¹/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: î
    • Tâi-lô: î
    • Phofsit Daibuun: ii
    • IPA (Xiamen): /i²⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /i²⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /i¹³/
    • IPA (Taipei): /i²⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /i²³/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: i⁵
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: î
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /i⁵⁵/

---

• Middle Chinese: ye

Rime
Character	蛇
Reading #	1/3
Initial (聲)	以 (36)
Final (韻)	支 (11)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	弋支切
Baxter	ye
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/jiᴇ/
Pan Wuyun	/jiɛ/
Shao Rongfen	/jɛ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/jiə̆/
Li Rong	/ie/
Wang Li	/jǐe/
Bernard Karlgren	/ie̯/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	yí
Expected Cantonese Reflex	ji4

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*laj/

  (Zhengzhang): /*lal/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	蛇
Reading #	2/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	yí
Middle Chinese	‹ ye ›
Old Chinese	/*laj/
English	委蛇 compliant, complacent
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	蛇
Reading #	3/3
No.	12236
Phonetic component	它
Rime group	歌
Rime subdivision	1
Corresponding MC rime	移
Old Chinese	/*lal/

Definitions

蛇

1. Used in 蛇蛇 (“facile (of words); calmly; leisurely”).
2. Used in 委蛇 (wēiyí, “winding; meandering; pretending interest and sympathy”).

Compounds

• 委蛇 (wēiyí)
• 虛與委蛇／虚与委蛇 (xūyǔwēiyí)
• 蛇委
• 蛇蛇
• 蜲蛇 (wēiyí)
• 逶蛇 (wēiyí)
• 遺蛇／遗蛇

 

Etymology 2

From English sir.

Pronunciation

• Cantonese (Jyutping): soe⁴, se⁴

---

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: soe⁴, se⁴
    • Yale: sèuh, sèh
    • Cantonese Pinyin: soe⁴, se⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: sê⁴, sé⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sœː²¹/, /sɛː²¹/

Definitions

蛇

1. (Cantonese) sir (used when addressing policemen or male schoolteachers)

Compounds

• 阿蛇

 

See also

• (Chinese zodiac signs) 鼠 (shǔ), 牛 (niú), 虎 (hǔ), 兔 (tù), 龍／龙 (lóng), 蛇 (shé), 馬／马 (mǎ), 羊 (yáng), 猴 (hóu), 雞／鸡 (jī), 狗 (gǒu), 豬／猪 (zhū) ^{(Category: zh:Chinese zodiac signs)}

References

• “蛇”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
• Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A03624
• “Entry #7843”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2023.

Japanese

Kanji

蛇

(common “Jōyō” kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: じゃ (ja, Jōyō)^{←じや (zya, historical)}; た (ta); い (i)
• Kan-on: しゃ (sha)^{←しや (sya, historical)}; た (ta); い (i)
• Kan’yō-on: だ (da, Jōyō)
• Kun: へび (hebi, 蛇, Jōyō); くちなわ (kuchinawa, 蛇)^{←くちなは (kutinafa, 蛇, historical)}

Compounds

Compounds

• 委蛇(いい) (ii), 委蛇(いだ) (ida)
• 蟒蛇(うわばみ) (uwabami)
• 大蛇(おろち) (orochi)
• 蟒蛇(やまかがち) (yamakagachi)
• 熇尾蛇(ヒバカリ) (hibakari), 竹根蛇(ヒバカリ) (hibakari)
• 赤楝蛇(ヤマカガシ) (yamakagashi), 山(ヤマ)楝蛇(カガシ) (yamakagashi)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
蛇
へび Grade: S
kun’yomi

/pemi/ → /ɸemi/ → /ɸebi/ → /hebi/

Shift from older hemi (see below). The medial /m/ lost its nasal quality to become a plosive.

Appears in texts from the 1300s.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) へ​び [héꜜbì] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [he̞bʲi]

Noun

蛇(へび) or 蛇(ヘビ) • (hebi) 

1. a snake, serpent
   • 1999 March 6, “デビル・スネーク [Devil Snake]”, in Starter(スターター) Box(ボックス), Konami:

     目(め)が一(ひと)つしかないヘビ。冷(れい)気(き)をはき出(だ)し、相(あい)手(て)を氷(こおり)づけにする。

     Me ga hitotsu shikanai hebi. Reiki o hakidashi, aite o kōrizuke ni suru.

     A single-eyed snake that breathes out frigid air to freeze its opponents.

   • 1999 May 27, “生(い)き血(ち)をすするもの”, in Vol.3, Konami:

     暗(くら)闇(やみ)の中(なか)、道(みち)行(ゆ)く人(ひと)々(びと)を襲(おそ)う人(ひと)型(がた)の吸(きゅう)血(けつ)ヘビ。

     Kurayami no naka, michiyuku hitobito o osou hitogata no kyūketsu hebi.

     A humanoid blood-sucking serpent who assaults passerby from the dark.

   • 2000 May 1, “グラップラー”, in BOOSTER 7, Konami:

     ずるがしこいヘビ。太(ふと)くて長(なが)い身(しん)体(たい)で締(し)め付(つ)ける攻(こう)撃(げき)に注(ちゅう)意(い)！

     Zurugashikoi hebi. Futokute nagai shintai de shimetsukeru kōgeki ni chūi!

     Watch out! This devious serpent will grapple you tight with its long and thick body!

2. a snake (treacherous person)

Usage notes

As with many terms that name organisms, this term is often spelled in katakana, especially in biological contexts (where katakana is customary), as ヘビ.

Derived terms

• 蛇(ヘビ)苺(イチゴ) (hebīchigo)
• 蛇(ヘビ)貝(ガイ) (hebigai)
• 蛇(へび)神(がみ) (hebigami)
• 蛇(ヘビ)食(クイ)鷲(ワシ) (hebikui washi)
• 蛇(へび)座(ざ) (Hebiza, “Serpens”)
• 蛇(へび)責(ぜ)め (hebizeme)
• 蛇(へび)遣(つか)い (hebitsukai)
• 蛇(へび)毒(どく) (hebidoku)
• 蛇(ヘビ)蜻(トン)蛉(ボ) (hebitonbo)
• 蛇(ヘビノ)寝(ネ)御(ゴ)座(ザ) (hebinonegoza)
• 蛇(ヘビ)不登(ノボラズ) (hebinoborazu)
• 蛇(へび)の殻(から) (hebi no kara)
• 蛇(へび)の衣(きぬ) (hebi no kinu)
• 蛇(へび)婿(むこ)入(い)り (hebi muko iri)
• 雨(アマ)傘(ガサ)蛇(ヘビ) (amagasa hebi)
• 海(ウミ)蛇(ヘビ) (umihebi)
• がらがら蛇(へび) (garagarahebi)
• 烏(からす)蛇(へび) (karasuhebi)
• 金(カナ)蛇(ヘビ) (kanahebi), 蛇舅母(カナヘビ) (kanahebi)
• 川(かわ)蛇(へび) (kawahebi)
• 鎖(クサリ)蛇(ヘビ) (kusarihebi)
• 縞(シマ)蛇(ヘビ) (shimahebi)
• 白(シロ)蛇(ヘビ) (shirohebi)
• 毒(どく)蛇(へび) (dokuhebi)
• 錦(ニシキ)蛇(ヘビ) (nishikihebi)
• 裸(はだか)蛇(へび) (hadakahebi)
• 水(みず)蛇(へび)座(ざ) (Mizuhebiza)
• 眼(メ)鏡(ガネ)蛇(ヘビ) (meganehebi)
• 盲(メクラ)蛇(ヘビ) (mekurahebi)
• 藪(やぶ)蛇(へび) (yabuhebi)

Idioms

• 蛇(へび)穴(あな)に入(い)る (hebi ana ni iru)
• 蛇(へび)穴(あな)を出(い)ず (hebi ana o izu)
• 蛇(へび)の生殺(なまごろ)し (hebi no namagoroshi)
• 蛙(かえる)は口(くち)ゆえ蛇(へび)に吞(の)まるる (kaeru wa kuchi yue hebi ni nomaruru)
• 草(くさ)を打(う)って蛇(へび)を驚(おどろ)かす (kusa o utte hebi o odorokasu)
• 藪(やぶ)をつついて蛇(へび)を出(だ)す (yabu o tsutsuite hebi o dasu)

Proverbs

• 蛇(へび)に嚙(か)まれて朽(く)ち縄(なわ)に怖(お)じる (hebi ni kamarete kuchinawa ni ojiru)
• 蛇(へび)に見(み)込(こ)まれた蛙(かえる) (hebi ni mikomareta kaeru)
• 蛇(じゃ)の道(みち)は蛇(へび) (ja no michi wa hebi)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
蛇
へみ Grade: S
irregular

⟨pe₂mi₁⟩ → */pəɨmʲi/ → /pemi/ → /ɸemi/ → /hemi/

From Old Japanese.

Derivation theories include:

• Possibly cognate with Korean 뱀 (baem, “snake”).
• Possibly related to, or influenced by, Old Japanese-derived verb 食む (hamu, “to bite”).
• Possibly also related to 波布 (habu, “a kind of poisonous pit viper native to Okinawa”).

Noun

蛇(へみ) • (hemi) 

1. (obsolete) a snake, serpent

Derived terms

• 巳(み) (mi, the “snake” in astrology)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
蛇
くちなわ Grade: S
kun’yomi

Extension of 朽ち縄 (kuchinawa, literally “rotten rope”), as such a rope resembles the appearance of a snake.

朽ち縄 (kuchinawa) itself is from くち (kuchi, 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb くちる (“to rot”).) + 縄(なわ) (nawa, “rope”)

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) くちなわ [kùchínáwá] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [kɯ̟̊ᵝt͡ɕina̠ɰᵝa̠]

Noun

蛇(くちなわ) • (kuchinawa) ^{←くちなは (kutinafa)?}

1. (obsolete) a snake, serpent

Derived terms

• 蛇(くちなわ)苺(いちご) (kuchinawa ichigo)
• 烏(からす)蛇(くちなわ) (karasu kuchinawa)
• 黒(くろ)蛇(くちなわ) (kurokuchinawa)

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
蛇
じゃ Grade: S
goon

From Middle Chinese 蛇 (MC zyae).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) じゃ​ [jáꜜ] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑa̠]

Noun

蛇(じゃ) • (ja) 

1. a snake, serpent
2. Short for 蛇之助 (janosuke): a heavy drinker

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 蛇(じゃ)踊(おどり) (jaodori)
• 蛇(じゃ)貝(がい) (jagai)
• 蛇(じゃ)籠(かご) (jakago)
• 蛇(じゃ)口(ぐち) (jaguchi)
• 蛇(ジャ)結(ケツ)茨(イバラ) (jaketsu ibara)
• 蛇(じゃ)籠(こ) (jako)
• 蛇(ジャ)苔(ゴケ) (jagoke)
• 蛇(じゃ)卵(だま) (jadama)
• 蛇(じゃ)之(の)助(すけ) (janosuke)
• 蛇(じゃ)の鮨(すし) (ja no sushi)
• 蛇(じゃ)の鬚(ひげ) (ja no hige)
• 蛇(じゃ)の目(め) (ja no me)
• 蛇(じゃ)腹(ばら) (jabara)
• 蛇(じゃ)皮(び) (jabi)
• 蛇(じゃ)柳(やなぎ) (Jayanagi)
• 蛇(じゃ)虫(むし) (jamushi)
• 蛇(じゃ)紋(もん) (jamon)

Proverbs

Derived terms

• 蛇(じゃ)が蚊(か)を吞(の)んだよう (ja ga ka o nondayou)
• 蛇(じゃ)の道(みち)は蛇(へび) (ja no michi wa hebi)
• 蛇(じゃ)は一寸(いっすん)にして人(ひと)を吞(の)む (ja wa issun ni shite hito o nomu)
• 鬼(おに)が住(す)むか蛇(じゃ)が住(す)むか (oni ga sumu ka ja ga sumu ka)
• 灰(はい)吹(ふ)きから蛇(じゃ)が出(で)る (haifuki kara ja ga deru)

Affix

蛇(じゃ) • (ja) 

1. snake, serpent
2. snakelike, snaky

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 蛇(じゃ)灰(かい)岩(がん) (jakaigan)
• 蛇(じゃ)蝎(かつ) (jakatsu), 蛇(じゃ)蠍(かつ) (jakatsu)
• 蛇(じゃ)管(かん) (jakan)
• 蛇(じゃ)行(こう) (jakō)
• 蛇(じゃ)骨(こつ) (jakotsu)
• 蛇(じゃ)心(しん) (jashin)
• 蛇(じゃ)身(しん) (jashin)
• 蛇(じゃ)舌(ぜつ) (jazetsu)
• 蛇(じゃ)足(そく) (jasoku)
• 蛇(じゃ)体(たい) (jatai)
• 蛇(じゃ)頭(とう) (jatō)
• 蛇(じゃ)道(どう) (jadō)
• 蛇(じゃ)毒(どく) (jadoku)
• 王(おう)蛇(じゃ) (ōja)
• 大(だい)蛇(じゃ) (daija)
• 長(ちょう)蛇(じゃ) (chōja)
• 毒(どく)蛇(じゃ) (dokuja)
• 白(はく)蛇(じゃ) (hakuja)

Etymology 5

Kanji in this term
蛇
だ Grade: S
kan’yōon

Confusion of pronunciation with 陀(だ) (da) via phonetic radical 它.

Affix

蛇(だ) • (da) 

1. snake, serpent

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 蛇(だ)蝎(かつ) (dakatsu), 蛇(だ)蠍(かつ) (dakatsu)
• 蛇(だ)管(かん) (dakan)
• 蛇(だ)行(こう) (dakō)
• 蛇(だ)咬(こう)症(しょう) (dakōshō)
• 蛇(だ)心(しん) (dashin)
• 蛇(だ)足(そく) (dasoku)
• 銀(ぎん)蛇(だ) (ginda)
• 春(しゅん)蚓(いん)秋(しゅう)蛇(だ) (shun'inshūda)
• 常(じょう)山(ざん)の蛇(だ)勢(せい) (Jōzan no dasei)
• 長(ちょう)蛇(だ) (chōda)
• 杯(はい)中(ちゅう)の蛇(だ)影(えい) (haichū no daei)
• 百(ヒャッ)歩(ポ)蛇(ダ) (hyappoda)
• 竜(りゅう)頭(とう)蛇(だ)尾(び) (ryūtōdabi)

Etymology 6

Kanji in this term
蛇
い Grade: S
on’yomi

From Middle Chinese 蛇 (MC ye).

Affix

蛇(い) • (i) 

1. winding, meandering

Derived terms

• 委(い)蛇(い) (ii)

Korean

Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 蛇 (MC zyae).

Historical Readings
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
	Gloss (hun)	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527[2]	ᄇᆡ얌〯 (Yale: pòyyǎm)	샤 (Yale: syà)

Hanja

蛇 (eumhun 뱀 사 (baem sa)) or 蛇 (eumhun 긴 뱀 사 (gin baem sa))

1. snake; long snake

Etymology 2

From Middle Chinese 蛇 (MC ye).

Hanja

蛇 (eumhun 구불구불 이 (gubulgubul i))

1. winding, meandering

Oki-No-Erabu

Kanji

蛇

(common “Jōyō” kanji)

Etymology

Cognate with Japanese 蛇 (hebi).

Noun

蛇(ひび) (hibi) 

1. a snake, serpent

Okinawan

Kanji

蛇

(common “Jōyō” kanji)

Readings

• On (unclassified): じゃー (jā)
• Kun: ふぃーぶ (fību, 蛇); はぶ (habu, 蛇)

Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 蛇 (MC zyae).

Pronunciation

• (Shuri-Naha) じゃあ [jàá] (Heiban - [0])
• IPA^(key): [ʑaː]

Noun

蛇(じゃー) (jā) 

1. a snake, serpent

Derived terms

• 蛇(じゃ)皮(ふぃ) (jafi, “snakeskin”)

Etymology 2

Cognate with Japanese 蛇 (hebi).

Pronunciation

• (Shuri-Naha) ふぃいぶ [fìíbú] (Heiban - [0])
• IPA^(key): [ɸiːbu]

Noun

蛇(ふぃーぶ) (fību) 

1. (rare) a snake, serpent

Old Japanese

Etymology

Derivation theories include:

• Possibly cognate with modern Korean 뱀 (baem, “snake”).
• Possibly related to or influenced by the verb 食む (pamu, “to bite”).

Compounds

• 大蛇 (woroti)

Noun

蛇 (pe₂mi₁) (kana へみ)

1. a snake, serpent
   • 711–712, Kojiki, (First scroll, Ōkuninushi no mikoto):

     於是、其妻須勢理毘賣命、以蛇比禮_二字以音授其夫云「其蛇將咋以此比禮三擧打撥」。

     Now the mighty one Lady Bold gave her husband a scarf for the snakes and spoke to him, saying: “When the snakes try to bite you, wave this scarf three times to drive them off.”

Derived terms

• 四つの蛇 (yo₂tu no₂ pe₂mi₁)

Descendants

• Japanese: 蛇 (hemi → hebi)

Vietnamese

Han character

蛇: Hán Nôm readings: xà, thạch

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