蛇
shé
variant of 蛇[she2]
snake; serpent; CL:條|条[tiao2]
creeping creature (虫) + sound (它) = snake
虫 is the radical for reptiles and creeping creatures, anchoring this character firmly in the animal world. 它 contributes the sound shé (historically closer to tuó) rather than meaning — though it once meant 'snake' itself before being repurposed as a pronoun.
草丛里有一条蛇，我很害怕。
cǎo cóng lǐ yǒu yī tiáo shé, wǒ hěn hài pà.
There is a snake in the grass, I am very scared.
那条蛇慢慢地爬过了路。
nà tiáo shé màn màn de pá guò le lù.
That snake slowly crawled across the road.
Words with 蛇
蛇毒
shé dú
snake venom
虎头蛇尾
hǔ tóu shé wěi
lit. tiger's head, snake's tail (idiom); fig. a strong start but weak finish
蛇蝎美人
shé xiē měi rén
beautiful but dangerous woman; femme fatale
长蛇座
cháng shé zuò
Hydra (constellation)
长蛇阵
cháng shé zhèn
single-line formation (army)
响尾蛇
xiǎng wěi shé
rattlesnake
盐蛇
yán shé
(dialect) gecko
黄颔蛇
huáng hàn shé
adder (zoology)
黑眉蝮蛇
hēi méi fù shé
Snake island viper (Gloydius shedaoensis), feeding on migrating birds
黑腹蛇鹈
hēi fù shé tí
(bird species of China) oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster)
龙蛇混杂
lóng shé hùn zá
lit. dragons and snakes mingle (idiom)
龙头蛇尾
lóng tóu shé wěi
lit. dragon's head, snake's tail (idiom); fig. a strong start but weak finish