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

Reading tools

Text size

Pinyin English

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

Open vocabulary →

故事讲完了

You finished the story.

Keep the words you want, then choose another story when you are ready.

Choose another story →Review saved words