蛇
Meanings
1
General term for snake. The reading じゃ is more associated with large snakes or serpents, often in literary or traditional contexts.
A snake appeared in the garden.
Snakes are reptiles.
2
serpent; large snake
Only with reading じゃ
Often used for large or mythical snakes, especially with the reading じゃ. In modern usage, へび can also cover this sense, but じゃ carries a more classical or dramatic tone.
Large serpents often appear in old tales.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉に蛇が出るfor a snake to appear in a place
I was startled because a snake appeared in the garden.
- 蛇に噛まれるto be bitten by a snake
He was bitten by a snake in the mountains and taken to the hospital.
- 蛇を退治するto get rid of / exterminate a snake
The farmer got rid of the snake for us.
- 蛇がとぐろを巻くfor a snake to coil up
A snake was coiled up on the rock.
Expressions
- 薮蛇になるstir up a hornet's nest; make unnecessary trouble for oneself; put one's foot in one's mouth
- 蛇の生殺しleaving someone in limbo; dragging out uncertainty; half-killing a snake (lit.)
- 蛇の道は蛇it takes one to know one; a thief knows a thief; the wolf knows what the ill beast thinks
- 蛇穴に入るsnake hibernation
- 藪をつついて蛇を出すstir up trouble for oneself; poke the bush and scare out a snake
- 蛇に噛まれて朽ち縄に怖じるonce bitten, twice shy