毒蛇(どくへび)

どくへび
noun
venomous snake; poisonous snake
natureanimal-general
1. venomous snake; poisonous snake
A snake that produces venom and can deliver it through a bite. In Japan, common venomous snakes include the mamushi (pit viper) and habu.
毒蛇(どくへび)に注意(ちゅうい)。
Watch out for venomous snakes.
山道(やまみち)で毒蛇(どくへび)に噛(か)まれた。
I was bitten by a venomous snake on the mountain trail.
マムシは日本(にほん)で最(もっと)も身近(みぢか)な毒蛇(どくへび)のひとつだ。
The mamushi is one of the most commonly encountered venomous snakes in Japan.

Also read as どくじゃ, though どくへび is the more common reading in everyday speech. Strictly speaking, 'venomous' (injecting toxin via bite) is more accurate than 'poisonous' (toxic when ingested), but 毒蛇(どくへび) covers both in Japanese.

Common collocations

Related words

  • マムシ: Japanese pit viper — the most common venomous snake in mainland Japan
  • ハブ: habu — a large venomous pit viper found in Okinawa
  • 蛇(へび): snake — the general term
  • 毒(どく): poison, venom

Related Words

Related: ハブ (habu)
general
Added 2026.3.31 7:17 · Revised 2026.9.9 0:23
20500/20943_dokuhebi