螣蛇

Chinese

		flying dragon	snake; serpent
simp. and trad. (螣蛇)		螣	蛇

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): téngshé

  (Zhuyin): ㄊㄥˊ ㄕㄜˊ

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: téngshé
    • Zhuyin: ㄊㄥˊ ㄕㄜˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: téngshé
    • Wade–Giles: tʻêng²-shê²
    • Yale: téng-shé
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: terngsher
    • Palladius: тэншэ (tɛnšɛ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

Noun

螣蛇

1. (mythology) teng snake, a kind of flying serpent or dragon

   • 螣蛇無足而飛。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     螣蛇无足而飞。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Xunzi, c. 3^rd century BCE

     Téngshé wú zú ér fēi. [Pinyin]

     The tengshe has no feet, yet it flies.

   • 螣蛇乘霧，終為土灰。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     螣蛇乘雾，终为土灰。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 3rd century, Cao Cao, 《步出夏門行·龜雖壽》, based on the translation by Jean Elizabeth Ward.

     Téngshé chéng wù, zhōng wéi tǔ huī. [Pinyin]

     Though winged serpents ride high on the mist, they turn to dust and ashes at last.