一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳

Traditional form:

一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井繩

Pinyin (reading):

yīzhāobèishéyǎo,shíniánpàjǐngshéng

Definitions:

• once bitten by a snake, ten years in fear of a well rope
• once bitten, twice shy (idiom)

Characters:

• 一 - one; a, an; alone
• 朝 - to face; direct, facing; dynasty; morning
• 被 - bedding; a passive particle meaning "by"
• 蛇 - snake
• 咬 - to bite, to gnaw
• 十 - ten, tenth; complete; perfect
• 年 - year; anniversary; a person's age
• 怕 - to fear, to be afraid of; apprehensive
• 井 - well, mine shaft, pit
• 绳 - string, rope, cord; to control

Traditional characters:

• 一 - one; a, an; alone
• 朝 - to face; direct, facing; dynasty; morning
• 被 - bedding; a passive particle meaning "by"
• 蛇 - snake
• 咬 - to bite, to gnaw
• 十 - ten, tenth; complete; perfect
• 年 - year; anniversary; a person's age
• 怕 - to fear, to be afraid of; apprehensive
• 井 - well, mine shaft, pit
• 繩 - string, rope, cord; to control