蛇影杯弓 — “To be unduly alarmed by imaginary fears”

蛇影杯弓 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be unduly alarmed by imaginary fears”. To mistake a reflection for a snake and become needlessly frightened. Literally, “Snake shadow in the cup, bow on the wall”.

Frequency

蛇影杯弓 Pronunciation and Pinyin

蛇影杯弓 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
蛇	shé	11	snake, compliant, tactful
影	yǐng	15	shadow, image, film
杯	bēi	8	cup or trophy
弓	gōng	3	bow

Example Sentence with 蛇影杯弓

小明考试前总是容易紧张，一点点风吹草动都能让他蛇影杯弓，担心自己会考不好。

Xiao Ming always gets nervous before exams; the slightest disturbance can make him imagine things and worry excessively that he won't do well.

Origin and Story of 蛇影杯弓

Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a man named Du Xuan. Once, while drinking at a friend's house, he saw what looked like a snake in his wine cup.

After drinking, he developed chest and abdominal pains, and despite various treatments, he couldn't get well. His friend, surprised, asked him what was wrong.

Du Xuan recounted what he had seen that day. The friend laughed and told him it was merely the reflection of a bow hanging on the wall.

Du Xuan burst into laughter upon hearing this, and his illness disappeared without further treatment.