() - Viper — refers to venomous snakes of the & often used in classical Chinese texts to denote

Tone 4

fù | 15 strokes | radical:

·

Viper — refers to venomous snakes of the genus Gloydius, particularly the pit viper;

often used in classical Chinese texts to denote poisonous snakes.

Viper — refers to venomous snakes of theoften used in classical Chinese texts to denote

Usage highlights

Pit viperViper's poisonViper biteViper's tongueViper's natureViper and scorpion

Synonyms

  • 毒蛇venomous snake
  • a kind of venomous snake

Antonyms

  • dragon (symbol of nobility and power)
  • phoenix (symbol of virtue and grace)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The venom of the pit viper (蝮蛇) is highly toxic.
  • This area is known to have many vipers (多蝮).
  • He was bitten by a viper (被蝮所螫).
  • Ancient texts warn of the viper's poison (蝮毒).

Collocations

  • Pit viper(蝮蛇)
  • Viper's poison(蝮毒)
  • Viper bite(蝮螫)
  • Viper's tongue(蝮舌)
  • Viper's nature(蝮性)
  • Viper and scorpion(蝮蝎)

Idioms

  • The viper's hand and the scorpion's tail — extreme viciousness(蝮手蝎尾)
  • The viper and the dragon are both reptiles — evil and good can coexist(蝮龙一雌)
  • To keep a viper in one's bosom — to nurture a dangerous person(养蝮贻患)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, the viper symbolizes danger, treachery, and venomous nature.
  • Frequently appears in classical literature and medical texts describing poisonous creatures.
  • Often used metaphorically to describe malicious people or dangerous situations.

FAQ