Translation guide
The English word 'snake' refers to a legless reptile. In Japanese, the most common word is ヘビ. This guide covers the animal, related expressions, and figurative uses.
Referring to the reptile itself.
The standard word for 'snake' in Japanese. Can be written in katakana as ヘビ or kanji as 蛇.
庭にヘビがいました。
There was a snake in the garden.
ヘビは爬虫類です。
Snakes are reptiles.
The kanji form of ヘビ. Used in formal or written contexts, and in compound words.
蛇は古来より神聖視されてきた。
Snakes have been regarded as sacred since ancient times.
Describing a person who is sneaky, untrustworthy, or backstabbing.
Literally 'black-bellied person', meaning someone who is scheming or malicious underneath a friendly exterior. This is a common way to express the idea of a 'snake' as a treacherous person.
彼は腹黒い人だから気をつけて。
He's a snake, so be careful.
Means 'untrustworthy person'. A more direct description than figurative 'snake'.
あの人は信用できない人だ。
That person is a snake.
Means 'sly and malicious person'. Conveys underhanded nastiness.
彼は陰険な人で、裏で何をしているかわからない。
He's a snake; you never know what he's doing behind your back.
Describing something that moves or is shaped like a snake.
Use this pattern to describe snake-like movement or shape. 'のように' means 'like a'.
ヘビのようにくねくね動く。
It moves like a snake, wriggling.
ヘビのように長い列ができていた。
There was a long line like a snake.
Noun or suru-verb meaning 'meandering' or 'zigzagging', literally 'snake-going'. Used for roads, rivers, or movement.
川が蛇行している。
The river snakes along.
Expressing the idea of being bitten once, twice shy, or having a phobia from a bad experience.
Proverb: 'Bitten by a snake, one fears a rotten rope.' Equivalent to 'once bitten, twice shy'. Very literary.
蛇に噛まれて朽ち縄に怖じるというが、彼はもう投資をしない。
As the saying goes, once bitten by a snake, he fears a rotten rope; he won't invest anymore.
While English uses 'snake' to mean a treacherous person, Japanese ヘビ does not carry that figurative meaning. Use expressions like 腹黒い人 or 信用できない人 instead.
In the Chinese zodiac, the snake is 巳 (み). The year of the snake is 巳年 (みどし).