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HSK 4 Chinese reading practice

杯弓蛇影

bēi gōng shé yǐng

The Snake Reflection in the Cup

A frightened guest mistakes a bow's reflection for a snake and becomes ill from his own suspicion.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 4
READ5 min
HANZI191
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文化
CULTURE

Fear created by imagination

杯弓蛇影 tells of mistaking the reflection of a bow in a wine cup for a snake. The idiom describes becoming frightened or suspicious because of something imagined rather than real.

Key vocabulary12 words from this story
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阅读理解 · COMPREHENSION

Check your understanding

Answer three questions without looking at the English translation.

01朋友在酒杯里看见了什么？
02杯子里的“蛇”其实是什么？
03朋友什么时候明白杯里没有蛇？
0 / 3questions answered
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Chinese idiom guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about 杯弓蛇影

What does 杯弓蛇影 mean in English?

杯弓蛇影 (bēi gōng shé yǐng) literally means “a bow’s reflection in a cup looks like a snake.” It describes unnecessary fear caused by suspicion or a misunderstanding.

When is 杯弓蛇影 used?

Use 杯弓蛇影 when someone becomes frightened by something imaginary or misinterpreted. For example: After hearing one strange noise, he thought the house was haunted; it was 杯弓蛇影.

What is the pinyin for 杯弓蛇影?

The pinyin pronunciation for 杯弓蛇影 is “bēi gōng shé yǐng.”