五步蛇

Traditional form:

五步蛇

Pinyin (reading):

wǔbùshé

Definitions:

• Deinagkistrodon acutus, a species of venomous pit viper (lit. "five-pace snake" – supposedly, a person bitten by it can only walk five steps before succumbing to the venom)

Characters:

• 五 - five; surname
• 步 - walk, stroll, pace, march; to make progress
• 蛇 - snake

Traditional characters:

• 五 - five; surname
• 步 - walk, stroll, pace, march; to make progress
• 蛇 - snake