# 蛇

| 蛇 | U+86C7, &#34503; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-86C7 |
| ← 蛆 [U+86C6] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 蛈 → [U+86C8] |

## Translingual
### Han character

蛇 (Kangxi radical 142, 虫+5, 11 strokes, cangjie input 中戈十心 (LIJP), four-corner 5311$_1$, composition ⿰虫它)

#### Derived characters

* 㵃, 𨫯, 𬠶, 𰣿

#### 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
### 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 |
| | 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 (she$^2$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄕㄜˊ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): se$^2$
    (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): shé
    (Nanjing, Nanjing Pinyin): shé
    (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): шә (šə, I)
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): se$^4$
    (Dongguan, Jyutping++): soe$^4$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): sie$^3$
* Gan (Wiktionary): sa$^4$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): sà
    (Hailu, HRS): sha
    (Meixian, Guangdong): sa$^2$
    (Changting, Changting Pinyin): sha$^2$
* Jin (Wiktionary): se$^1$
* Northern Min (KCR): ṳê
* Eastern Min (BUC): siè
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): syo$^2$ / sya$^2$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): chôa / siâ
    (Teochew, Peng'im): zua$^5$
    (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): zua$^5$ / se$^5$
* Southern Pinghua (Nanning, Jyutping++): se$^4$
* Wu (Northern, Wugniu): $^6$zo / $^2$zo / $^2$dzo / $^2$za / $^2$dzuei / $^2$zhia / $^4$ziau
* Xiang
    (Changsha, Wiktionary): sha$^2$ / she$^2$
    (Loudi, Wiktionary): xxio$^2$
    (Hengyang, Wiktionary): xia$^2$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: shé
*** Zhuyin: ㄕㄜˊ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: shé
*** Wade–Giles: shê$^2$
*** Yale: shé
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: sher
*** Palladius: шэ (šɛ)
*** Sinological IPA : /ʂɤ³⁵/
** (Standard Chinese, erhua-ed) (蛇兒 / 蛇儿)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: shér
*** Zhuyin: ㄕㄜˊㄦ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: shér
*** Wade–Giles: shê$^2$-ʼrh
*** Yale: shér
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: sher'l
*** Palladius: шэр (šɛr)
*** Sinological IPA : /ʂɤɻ³⁵/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: se$^2$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: se
*** Sinological IPA : /sɛ²¹/
** (Xi'an)
*** Guanzhong Pinyin: shé
*** Sinological IPA : /ʂɤ²⁴/
** (Nanjing)
*** Nanjing Pinyin: shé
*** Nanjing Pinyin (numbered): she$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /ʂe²⁴/
** (Dungan)
*** Cyrillic and Wiktionary: шә (šə, I)
*** Sinological IPA : /ʂə²⁴/
    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: se$^4$
*** Yale: sèh
*** Cantonese Pinyin: se$^4$
*** Guangdong Romanization: sé$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /sɛː²¹/
** (Dongguan, Guancheng)
*** Jyutping++: soe$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /sø²¹/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: sie$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /siɛ²²/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: sa$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /sa³⁵/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sà
*** Hakka Romanization System: sa$^ˇ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: sa$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /sa¹¹/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: sha
*** Sinological IPA: /ʃa⁵⁵/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: sa$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /sa¹¹/
** (Changting)
*** Changting Pinyin: sha$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /ʃa²⁴/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: se$^1$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /sɤ¹¹/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: ṳê
*** Sinological IPA : /yɛ³³/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: siè
*** Sinological IPA : /sie⁵³/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: syo$^2$
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: sió̤
*** Sinological IPA : /ɬyɒ¹³/
** (Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: sya$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /ɬya¹³/
* 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/
* chôa - vernacular;
* siâ - literary.
* Dialectal data
| Variety | Location | edit蛇 |
| Mandarin | Beijing | /ʂɤ³⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Harbin | /ʂɤ²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Tianjin | /ʂɑ⁴⁵/ /sɑ⁴⁵/ /ʂɤ⁴⁵/ /sɤ⁴⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Jinan | /ʂa⁴²/ |
| Mandarin | Qingdao | /ʃə⁴²/ |
| Mandarin | Zhengzhou | /ʂʐ̩ɛ⁴²/ |
| Mandarin | Xi'an | /ʂɤ²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Xining | /ʂɛ²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Yinchuan | /ʂə⁵³/ |
| Mandarin | Lanzhou | /ʂə⁵³/ |
| Mandarin | Ürümqi | /ʂɤ⁵¹/ |
| Mandarin | Wuhan | /sɤ²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Chengdu | /se³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Guiyang | /se²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Kunming | /ʂə³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Nanjing | /ʂe²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Hefei | /ʂe⁵⁵/ |
| Jin | Taiyuan | /sɤ¹¹/ |
| Jin | Pingyao | /ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩e̞¹³/ |
| Jin | Hohhot | /sɤ³¹/ |
| Wu | Shanghai | /zo²³/ |
| Wu | Suzhou | /zo¹³/ |
| Wu | Hangzhou | /d͡zz̩ʷei²¹³/ |
| Wu | Wenzhou | /ze³¹/ |
| Hui | Shexian | /ɕie⁴⁴/ /ɕia⁴⁴/ |
| Hui | Tunxi | /ɕia⁴⁴/ |
| Xiang | Changsha | /ʂə¹³/ /ʂa¹³/ |
| Xiang | Xiangtan | /ʂɒ¹²/ |
| Gan | Nanchang | /sɑ⁴⁵/ |
| Hakka | Meixian | /sa¹¹/ |
| Hakka | Taoyuan | /ʃɑ¹¹/ |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | /sɛ²¹/ |
| Cantonese | Nanning | /sɛ²¹/ |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | /sɛ²¹/ |
| Min | Xiamen (Hokkien) | /sia³⁵/ /t͡sua³⁵/ |
| Min | Fuzhou (Eastern Min) | /sie⁵³/ |
| Min | Jian'ou (Northern Min) | /yɛ³³/ |
| Min | Shantou (Teochew) | /t͡sua⁵⁵/ |
| Min | 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/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /d͡ʑʰi̯a/ | /tʰɑ/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | shé | tuō |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | se$^4$ | to$^1$ |
* 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
* snake; serpent (Classifier: 條／条 m c; 尾 mn)
** c. 3rd century BCE, 荀子 [Xunzi], 荀子 [Xunzi]:
       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.
** 1919, 《新舊約全書：官話和合譯本》 [Mandarin Bible, Union Version], Shanghai: American Bible Society, 創世記 [Genesis] 3:13:
       Yēhéhuá Shàngdì 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.
* illegal immigrant
    人蛇 ― rénshé ― illegal immigrant
    蛇頭／蛇头 ― shétóu ― people smuggler
* (Cantonese) to shirk one's duty; to be lazy on the job
* (Cantonese, poker) straight
* (regional, pathology) herpes zoster; shingles
    生蛇 [Cantonese] ― saang$^1$ se$^4$ [Jyutping] ― to have shingles
    蛇針／蛇针 [Cantonese] ― se$^4$ zam$^1$ [Jyutping] ― shingles vaccine
* a surname

###### Usage notes

Classifier 尾 (wěi) is also used in Taiwanese Mandarin, due to the influence of Hokkien.

###### Synonyms

* (snake):
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 蛇 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 蛇 |
| Taxonomic name | Taxonomic name | 蛇 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 蛇 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Langfang | 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Chengde | 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Ulanhot | 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Tongliao | 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Chifeng | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Hulunbuir (Hailar) | 蛇, 長蟲, 大蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Heihe | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Qiqihar | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Harbin | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Jiamusi | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Baicheng | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Changchun | 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Tonghua | 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Shenyang | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Jinzhou | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 蛇 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 蛇 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Tianjin | 長蟲 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Tangshan | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Cangzhou | 長蟲 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Baoding | 長蟲 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Shijiazhuang | 長蟲 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Lijin | 長蟲 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 長蟲, 蛇 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Dalian | 長蟲 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Dandong | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Yantai | 長蟲 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Yantai (Muping) | 長蟲 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Rongcheng | 長蟲, 長長 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Qingdao | 長蟲 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Zhucheng | 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Luoyang | 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Lingbao | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Jining | 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Daming | 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Wanrong | 蛇 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Linfen | 蛇 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Shangqiu | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Yuanyang | 蛇 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Zhengzhou | 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xinyang | 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Baihe | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Baoji | 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Yanchi | 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Guyuan | 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Longde | 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Jingyuan | 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Tianshui | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xining | 蛇 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xuzhou | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Fuyang | 蛇 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan) | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Masanchin (Shaanxi Dungan) | 長蟲 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Yinchuan | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Wuzhong | 長蟲 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Zhongwei | 長蟲 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Bayanhot | 蛇 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Lanzhou | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Dunhuang | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Hami | 長蟲 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Ürümqi | 長蟲, 蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 蛇, 梭老二, 梭登子, 老梭, 梭梭兒, 乾黃鱔, 長客, 長蟲, 金串子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu (Xindu) | 梭老二, 梭針子, 長客 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu (Pidu) | 梭老二, 梭梭 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu (Wenjiang) | 梭老二, 梭二爺, 梭匠 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu (Shuangliu) | 梭老二, 梭梭, 乾黃鱔, 長居士 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu (Xinjin) | 梭老二, 梭梭, 梭梭兒 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Jintang | 梭老二, 梭針子, 梭二娃, 老梭, 乾黃鱔, 長客, 長蟲 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Pengzhou | 梭老二, 梭梭, 梭梭兒, 梭老兒, 乾黃鱔 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Dujiangyan | 梭老二, 乾黃鱔, 長客 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chongzhou | 梭老二, 梭二爺, 乾黃鱔, 長客, 排打排 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Dayi | 梭二爺, 乾黃鱔 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Pujiang | 梭二爺, 梭梭, 乾黃鱔 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Qionglai | 梭二爺, 梭二哥, 梭梭, 長客, 長居士 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guangyuan | 長蟲 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Meishan | 梭老二, 乾黃鱔 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Luzhou | 乾黃鱔, 金串子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Leshan | 乾黃鱔, 長蟲 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Suining | 梭老二 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Nanchong | 蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Dazhou | 長蟲 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Hanyuan | 蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Xichang | 蛇, 老梭, 梭老二 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Zigong | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Rongxian | 梭老二, 長蟲 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chongqing | 蛇, 螂雞兒 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Yichang | 蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Xiangyang | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Tianmen | 蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guiyang | 老蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Zunyi | 蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Bijie | 老蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liping | 蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Zhaotong | 老梭 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Dali | 蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Kunming | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Mengzi | 蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liuzhou | 蛇, 溜子 dated |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Nanning (Wuming) | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Jishou | 蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Changde | 蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Hanzhong | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nanjing | 蛇兒, 蛇 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 蛇 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Lianyungang | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Lianshui | 蛇 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nantong | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Anqing | 蛇 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Wuhu | 蛇 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 蛇 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hong'an | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Ting Kok) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Panyu) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Conghua) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Zengcheng) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Foshan | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shunde) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Sanshui) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Doumen) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Baisha) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Xinhui) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Kaiping (Chikan) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Enping (Niujiang) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Heshan (Yayao) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Dongguan | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Shenzhen (Dapeng) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Qingyuan | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Fogang | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Yingde (Hanguang) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Yangshan | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Lianshan (Butian) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Lianzhou (Qingshui; Sihui) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Shaoguan | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Shaoguan (Qujiang) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Renhua | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Lechang | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Zhaoqing (Gaoyao) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Sihui | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Guangning | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Deqing | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Huaiji | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Fengkai (Nanfeng) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Yunfu | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Xinxing | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Luoding | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Yunan (Pingtai) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Xinyi | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Gaozhou | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Lianjiang | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Nanning | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Nanning (Tanka) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Wuzhou | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Yulin | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Cantonese | Hepu (Lianzhou) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Hepu (Shatian) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Guiping | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Guiping (Mule) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Pingnan | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Guigang (Gangcheng) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Guigang (Pingdong) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Beihai | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Nankang) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Yingpan) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Fangchenggang (Fangcheng) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Danzhou | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Ipoh (Guangfu) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Sarikei (Xinhui) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu) | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Móng Cái | 蛇 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 蛇 |
| Gan | Lichuan | 蛇 |
| Gan | Pingxiang | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Xingning | 蛇哥哩 |
| Hakka | Dabu (Xihe) | 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) | 蛇, 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Dongguan (Qingxi) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Longmen (Luxi; Bendihua) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Shenzhen (Shatoujiao) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Guangzhou (Zhengguo, Zengcheng) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Shuizhai) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Huacheng) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Changbu) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Mianyang) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Nanxiong (Zhuji) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Jiexi | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Jiexi (Huizhai) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Luhe | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Nanjing (Meilin) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Nanjing (Tianluokeng, Shuyang) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Changting | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Longyan (Yongding) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Longyan (Xiayang, Yongding) | 蛇, 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Longyan (Gaobei, Yongding) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Longyan (Hukeng, Yongding) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Wuping (Zhongshan) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Liancheng (Peitian) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Liancheng (Juxi) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Liancheng (Zhongbao) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Liancheng (Laiyuan) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Yudu | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Ruijin | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Tonggu | 溜哥, 蛇 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 蛇哥, 蛇, 土龍 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Zaoqiao; N. Sixian) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Touwu; N. Sixian) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Nanzhuang; N. Sixian) | 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Shitan; N. Sixian) | 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Sanwan; N. Sixian) | 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Toufen; N. Sixian) | 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Gongguan; N. Sixian) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Zhuolan; N. Sixian) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 蛇哥, 土龍 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Wuluo, Ligang; S. Sixian) | 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Kaohsiung (Meinong; S. Sixian) | 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Kaohsiung (Shanlin; S. Sixian) | 蛇哥, 長長個 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 蛇, 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 蛇, 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (Zhuolan; Raoping) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Hong Kong | 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Fumian (Xisha, Xinqiao) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Luchuan (Daqiao) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Luchuan (Sihe, Hengshan) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Bobai (Cuntou, Xintian) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Beiliu (Mumian, Xilang) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Xingye (Gaofeng) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Rongxian (Xiandi) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Chengdu (Longtan) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Chengdu (Shiling) | 蛇, 梭老二 |
| Hakka | Chengdu (Longwang) | 梭老二 |
| Hakka | Chengdu (Shibantan) | 蛇, 梭老二 |
| Hakka | Chengdu (Hexingchang) | 蛇, 梭老二 |
| Hakka | Weiyuan (Guanyingtan) | 蛇, 梭老二 |
| Hakka | Yilong (Ma'an) | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Hakka | Xichang (Huanglianguan) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Sabah (Longchuan) | 蛇哥, 蛇 |
| Hakka | Kuala Lumpur (Dabu) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Senai (Huiyang) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Sungai Tapang, Batu Kawa (Hepo) | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Singkawang | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Singapore (Meixian) | 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Singapore (Dabu) | 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Bangkok (Meixian) | 蛇哥 |
| Hakka | Bangkok (Fengshun) | 蛇哥 |
| Huizhou | Jixi | 蛇 |
| Huizhou | Shexian | 蛇 |
| Huizhou | Huangshan (Tunxi) | 蛇 |
| Huizhou | Xiuning | 蛇 |
| Huizhou | Yixian | 蛇 |
| Huizhou | Qimen | 蛇 |
| Huizhou | Wuyuan | 蛇 |
| Huizhou | Fuliang | 蛇 |
| Huizhou | Dexing | 蛇 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 蛇 |
| Jin | Pingyao | 蛇 |
| Jin | Yangyuan | 蛇 |
| Jin | Datong | 蛇, 皮條 |
| Jin | Xinzhou | 蛇 |
| Jin | Lüliang (Lishi) | 蛇 |
| Jin | Changzhi | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Jin | Taibus (Baochang) | 蛇 |
| Jin | Linhe | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Jin | Jining | 蛇 |
| Jin | Hohhot | 蛇 |
| Jin | Baotou | 蛇 |
| Jin | Dongsheng | 蛇 |
| Jin | Haibowan | 蛇 |
| Jin | Erenhot | 蛇 |
| Jin | Pingshan | 長蟲 |
| Jin | Zhangjiakou | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Jin | Handan | 蛇, 長蟲 |
| Jin | Linzhou | 蛇 |
| Jin | Suide | 蛇 |
| Jiuxing Yumin | Lanxi | 蛇 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 蛇 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou (Dikou) | 蛇 |
| Northern Min | Zhenghe (Zhenqian) | 蛇 |
| Northern Min | Pucheng (Shibei) | 蛇 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 老蛇, 蛇 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou (Changle) | 老蛇 |
| Eastern Min | Fuqing | 老蛇 |
| Eastern Min | Yongtai | 老蛇 |
| Eastern Min | Gutian | 老蛇 |
| Eastern Min | Fu'an | 老蛇 |
| Eastern Min | Ningde | 老蛇 |
| Eastern Min | Shouning | 老蛇 |
| Eastern Min | Zhouning | 老蛇 |
| Eastern Min | Fuding | 老蛇 |
| Eastern Min | Matsu | 老蛇 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Jinjiang | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Yongchun | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Zhao'an | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Dongshan | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Taipei | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Taipei (Wanhua) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Tamsui) | 蛇, 溜 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Sanxia) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Pingxi) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 蛇, 溜 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung (Cijin) | 蛇, 溜 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung (Hongmaogang, Siaogang) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung (Dalinpu, Siaogang) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung (Tianliao) | 蛇, 溜 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Yilan (Luodong) | 蛇, 溜 |
| Southern Min | Yilan (Toucheng) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Lukang) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Yongjing) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Taichung (Wuqi) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Tainan (Anping) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Taitung | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Hsinchu | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Miaoli (Houlong) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Pingtung (Baoli, Checheng) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Kinmen | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Magong) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Xiyu) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Medan (Hokkien) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Longyan | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Zhangping | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Zhangping (Yongfu) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Datian | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Pingnan (Shangdu) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Pingnan (Sijie) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Pingle (Zhoutang) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Lechang (Tatou) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Yingde (Yuzui) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Yunan (Liantan) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Raoping | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Jieyang | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Haifeng | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Bangkok (Teochew) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Johor Bahru (Teochew) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Leizhou | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Haikou | 蛇 |
| Puxian Min | Putian | 大蛇, 蛇 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Donghai, Chengxiang) | 大蛇, 蛇 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang) | 老蛇 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu) | 老蛇 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou | 大蛇, 老蛇 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou (Fengting) | 大蛇 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou (Youyang) | 大蛇, 老蛇 |
| Central Min | Yong'an | 蛇 |
| Shaojiang Min | Shaowu | 蛇 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) | 蛇 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Sanxiang) | 蛇 |
| Southern Pinghua | Nanning (Tingzi) | 蛇 |
| Northern Pinghua | Guilin (Dahe) | 蛇 |
| Shehua | Fu'an | 老蛇 |
| Shehua | Fuding | 蛇 |
| Shehua | Luoyuan | 蛇 |
| Shehua | Sanming | 蛇 |
| Shehua | Shunchang | 蛇 |
| Shehua | Hua'an | 蛇 |
| Shehua | Guixi (Zhangping) | 蛇 |
| Shehua | Cangnan | 蛇 |
| Shehua | Jingning (Hexi) | 蛇 |
| Shehua | Lishui | 蛇 |
| Shehua | Longyou | 蛇 |
| Shehua | Chaozhou | 蛇 |
| Shehua | Fengshun | 蛇 |
| Waxiang | Guzhang (Gaofeng) | 虺 |
| Waxiang | Yuanling (Shaojiwan) | 虺 |
| Waxiang | Luxi (Baisha) | 虺 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 蛇, 水蛇 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Songjiang) | 蛇, 長頭 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Zhoupu, Pudong) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Jiading) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Shuangcaodun, Baoshan) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Luodian, Baoshan) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chongming) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 蛇 |
| Wu | Suzhou (Lili, Wujiang) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Suzhou (Shengze, Wujiang) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Wuxi | 蛇 |
| Wu | Changshu | 蛇 |
| Wu | Kunshan | 蛇 |
| Wu | Jiaxing | 蛇 |
| Wu | Changzhou | 蛇 |
| Wu | Liyang | 蛇 |
| Wu | Changzhou (Jintan) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Yixing | 蛇 |
| Wu | Danyang | 蛇 |
| Wu | Danyang (Tongjiaqiao) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Jingjiang | 蛇 |
| Wu | Jiangyin | 蛇 |
| Wu | Huzhou (Shuanglin) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Hangzhou | 蛇 |
| Wu | Shaoxing | 蛇 |
| Wu | Zhuji (Wangjiajing) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Shengzhou (Chongren) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Shengzhou (Taiping) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 蛇 |
| Wu | Yuyao | 蛇 |
| Wu | Taizhou (Huangyan) | 蛇 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 蛇 |
| Wu | Quzhou | 蛇 |
| Wu | Jinhua | 蛇 |
| Wu | Yongkang | 蛇 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 蛇, 溜子, 臭溜子 |
| Xiang | Xiangtan | 蛇 |
| Xiang | Loudi | 蛇 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 蛇, 溜子 |
| Xiang | Quanzhou | 蛇 |
| Xiangnan Tuhua | Jiangyong | 蛇 |
| Xiangnan Tuhua | Dong'an | 蛇 |
| Yuebei Tuhua | Shaoguan (Dacun, Baitu, Qujiang) | 蛇 |
| Yuebei Tuhua | Shaoguan (Xiangyang, Xihe, Wujiang) | 蛇 |
| Yuebei Tuhua | Shaoguan (Shibei, Xinshao, Zhenjiang) | 蛇 |
| Yuebei Tuhua | Renhua (Zhoutian) | 蛇 |
| Yuebei Tuhua | Renhua (Shitang) | 蛇 |
| Yuebei Tuhua | Ruyuan (Songwei, Guitou) | 蛇 |
| Yuebei Tuhua | Lechang (Changlai) | 蛇 |
| Yuebei Tuhua | Lechang (Beixiang) | 蛇 |
| Yuebei Tuhua | Lechang (Huangpu) | 蛇 |
| Yuebei Tuhua | Lechang (Guitang, Pingshi) | 蛇 |
| Yuebei Tuhua | Lechang (Sanxi) | 蛇呱 |
* (straight): 順子／顺子 (shùnzi)
* (shingles):
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 帶狀皰疹 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 皮蛇 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 纏腰丹, 蛇纏腰 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu (Xindu) | 纏腰丹, 蛇纏腰 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu (Pidu) | 纏腰丹, 蛇纏腰 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu (Wenjiang) | 纏腰丹, 蛇纏腰 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu (Shuangliu) | 纏腰丹, 蛇纏腰 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu (Xinjin) | 纏腰丹, 蛇纏腰 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Jintang | 纏腰丹, 蛇纏腰, 龍纏腰 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Pengzhou | 纏腰丹 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Dujiangyan | 纏腰丹, 蛇纏腰 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chongzhou | 纏腰丹, 蛇纏腰 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Dayi | 纏腰丹, 蛇纏腰 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Pujiang | 纏腰丹, 蛇纏腰 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Qionglai | 纏腰丹, 蛇纏腰 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 蛇 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 蛇 |
| Hakka | Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) | 蛇 |
| Jin | Xinzhou | 纏腰龍 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 綑身蛇 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 緊腰蛇, 纏腰蛇 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Dehua | 飛蛇 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Taipei (Wanhua) | 軟爬蛇 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 皮蛇 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 皮蛇 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Lukang) | 纏身蛇 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 皮蛇 |
| Southern Min | Taichung (Wuqi) | 蛇 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 皮蛇, 飛蛇 |
| Southern Min | Taitung | 皮蛇 |
| Southern Min | Hsinchu | 軟爬蛇 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Magong) | 皮蛇 |

##### Descendants

* → 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)
* 打蛇打七寸 (dǎ shé dǎ qī cùn)
* 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)
* 松蛇 (sōngshé)
* 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 (dúshéměngshòu)
* 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
* 茅蛇 (máoshé)
* 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 (shétóushǔyǎn)
* 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 (yi$^2$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄧˊ
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): ji$^4$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): yi$^3$
* Hakka (Meixian, Guangdong): yi$^2$
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): i$^2$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): î
    (Teochew, Peng'im): i$^5$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: yí
*** Zhuyin: ㄧˊ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: yí
*** Wade–Giles: i$^2$
*** Yale: yí
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: yi
*** Palladius: и (i)
*** Sinological IPA : /i³⁵/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: ji$^4$
*** Yale: yìh
*** Cantonese Pinyin: ji$^4$
*** Guangdong Romanization: yi$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /jiː²¹/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: yi$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /ji²²/
* Hakka
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: yi$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /i¹¹/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: i$^2$
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: í
*** Sinological IPA : /i¹³/
* 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: i$^5$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: î
*** Sinological IPA : /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/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /ie̯/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | yí |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | ji$^4$ |
* 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
* Used in 蛇蛇 (“facile (of words); calmly; leisurely”).
* 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): soe$^4$ / se$^4$
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: soe$^4$ / se$^4$
*** Yale: sèuh / sèh
*** Cantonese Pinyin: soe$^4$ / se$^4$
*** Guangdong Romanization: sê$^4$ / sé$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /sœː²¹/, /sɛː²¹/

#### Definitions

蛇
* (Cantonese) sir (used when addressing policemen or male schoolteachers)

#### Compounds

* 阿蛇

### See also

* (Chinese zodiac signs) (~年) 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)

### References

* “蛇”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 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
* “蛇”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Jōyō kanji)

#### Readings

* Go-on: じゃ (ja, Jōyō)、た (ta)、い (i)
* Kan-on: しゃ (sha)、た (ta)、い (i)
* Kan’yō-on: だ (da, Jōyō)
* Kun: へび (hebi, 蛇, Jōyō)、くちなわ (kuchinawa, 蛇)

#### 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), 竹根蛇(ヒバカリ) (hibakari)
* 赤楝蛇(ヤマカガシ), 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: [he̞bʲi]

#### Noun

蛇(へび) or 蛇(ヘビ) • (hebi)
* 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 [Lifeblood-Slurping One]”, 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 [Grappler]”, 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!
* 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) (hebiichigo)
* 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), 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)
* 高千穂蛇(タカチホヘビ) (Takachiho hebi)
* 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
⟨pe$_2$mi$_1$⟩ → */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)
* (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: [kɯ̟̊t͡ɕina̠β̞a̠]

#### Noun

蛇(くちなわ) • (kuchinawa)
* (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: [d͡ʑa̠]

#### Noun

蛇(じゃ) • (ja)
* a snake, serpent
* Short for 蛇之助 (janosuke): a heavy drinker

##### 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)
* 蛇人参(ジャニンジン) (ja ninjin)
* 蛇(じゃ)之(の)助(すけ) (janosuke)
* 蛇(じゃ)の鮨(すし) (ja no sushi)
* 蛇(ジャ)の髭(ヒゲ) (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

* 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)
* snake, serpent
* snakelike, snaky

##### Derived terms

* 蛇(じゃ)灰(かい)岩(がん) (jakaigan)
* 蛇(じゃ)蝎(かつ), 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)
* snake, serpent

##### Derived terms

* 蛇(だ)蝎(かつ), 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)
* 南(ナン)蛇(ダ) (nanda)
* 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)
* winding, meandering

##### Derived terms

* 委(い)蛇(い) (ii)

### References

* 1 2 3 Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
* 1 2 Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN
* 1 2 NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN
* 1 2 3 4 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
* 1 2 3 Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

## Korean
### Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 蛇 (MC zyae).
Historical Readings :
| Middle Korean |||
| Text | Eumhun | Eumhun |
| Text | Gloss (hun) | Reading |
| Hunmong Jahoe, 1527 | ᄇᆡ얌〯 (Yale: pòyyǎm) | 샤 (Yale: syà) |

#### Hanja

蛇 (eumhun 뱀 사 (baem sa)) or 蛇 (eumhun 긴 뱀 사 (gin baem sa))
* snake; long snake

### Etymology 2

From Middle Chinese 蛇 (MC ye).

#### Hanja

蛇 (eumhun 구불구불 이 (gubulgubul i))
* winding, meandering

## Okinawan
### Kanji

(Jōyō kanji)

#### Readings

* On (unclassified): じゃ (ja, 蛇)、じゃー (jā, 蛇)
* Kun: はぶ (habu, 蛇)、ふぃーばー (fībā, 蛇)、ふぃーぶ (fību, 蛇)

### Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 蛇 (MC zyae).

#### Pronunciation

* (Shuri-Naha) じゃあ [jàá] (Heiban - [0])
* IPA: [ʑaː]

#### Noun

蛇(じゃー) (jā)
* 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: [ɸiːbu]

#### Noun

蛇(ふぃーぶ) (fību)
* (rare) a snake, serpent

### References
## Okinoerabu
### Kanji

(Jōyō kanji)

### Etymology

Cognate with Japanese 蛇 (hebi).

### Noun

蛇(ひび) (hibi)
* 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 (pe$_2$mi$_1$) (kana へみ)
* a snake, serpent
** 711–712, Kojiki, upper volume (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 (yo$_2$tu no$_2$ pe$_2$mi$_1$)

#### Descendants

* Japanese: 蛇 (hemi → hebi)

### References

* ↑ Gustav Heldt, transl. (2014), The Kojiki: An Account of Ancient Matters (Translations from the Asian Classics), illustrated edition, Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page 31

## Vietnamese
### Han character

蛇: Hán Nôm readings: xà, thạch
* This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.