How common it is
蛇 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Pronunciation focus
Say shé slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
蛇是一种身体细长的爬行动物，有些有毒，有些无毒。
Shé shì yī zhǒng shēntǐ xìcháng de páxíng dòngwù, yǒuxiē yǒudú, yǒuxiē wúdú.
A snake is a long, slender reptile; some are venomous, some are not.
Context note
在野外遇到蛇时，不要打扰它，慢慢走开。
Zài yěwài yùdào shé shí, bùyào dǎrǎo tā, mànmàn zǒukāi.
When encountering a snake in the wild, do not disturb it; slowly walk away.
5 examples
蛇在草地上爬行。
shé zài cǎo dì shàng pá xíng。
The snake crawls on the grass.
这条蛇没有毒。
zhè tiáo shé méi yǒu dú。
This snake is not venomous.
蛇喜欢吃老鼠。
shé xǐ huan chī lǎo shǔ。
Snakes like to eat mice.
动物园里有一条大蛇。
dòng wù yuán lǐ yǒu yì tiáo dà shé。
There is a big snake in the zoo.
蛇的皮肤很光滑。
shé de pí fū hěn guāng huá。
A snake's skin is very smooth.
5 mini stories
小强在花园里看到一条蛇。他赶紧叫爸爸来看。
xiǎo qiáng zài huā yuán lǐ kàn dào yì tiáo shé。 tā gǎn jǐn jiào bà ba lái kàn。
Xiao Qiang sees a snake in the garden. He quickly calls his dad to see.
蛇在树上休息。小鸟不敢靠近。
shé zài shù shàng xiū xi。 xiǎo niǎo bù gǎn kào jìn。
The snake rests in the tree. The little bird dares not come near.
小美在书里看到蛇的图片。她觉得蛇很神奇。
xiǎo měi zài shū lǐ kàn dào shé de tú piàn。 tā jué de shé hěn shén qí。
Xiao Mei sees a picture of a snake in a book. She thinks snakes are amazing.
蛇脱皮了。它的新皮很亮。
shé tuō pí le。 tā de xīn pí hěn liàng。
The snake sheds its skin. Its new skin is shiny.
小东在电视上看蛇。他学到了蛇没有脚。
xiǎo dōng zài diàn shì shàng kàn shé。 tā xué dào le shé méi yǒu jiǎo。
Xiao Dong watches snakes on TV. He learns that snakes have no feet.