The sixth of the Chinese zodiac is 蛇– ‘snake/serpent’.

Pronunciation

蛇 is pronounced shé.

Meaning

The character蛇(shé)was first seen in the oracle bone inscriptions. Its original meaning was an animal with a long, round body, scales and no claws. It also means walking along the ground, representing a mysterious way of living. Later,it extended to the meaning of looking like a snake amongst other meanings.

Example:

打草惊蛇 (dǎ cǎo jīng shé)

Literally, hit the grass and startled the snake in the grass. Later, it was used as a metaphor for not being cautious, but it made the other side is on guard.

杯弓蛇影 (bēi gōng shé yǐng)

Literally, mistook the rainbow in the wine glass for a snake. Metaphor for fear caused by suspicion.

人心不足蛇吞象 (rén xīn bù zú shé tūn xiàng)

The metaphor is that people are not greedy, just like a snake wanting to eat an elephant.

פתח את הצ'אט
.EWCCשלום, ברוכים הבאים ל
?שמי אירנה איך אני יכולה לעזור לך היום