一年被蛇咬十年怕井繩 yī nián bèi shé yǎo shí nián pà jǐng shéng

DEFINITIONS

  1. bitten by a snake in one year, fears the well rope for ten years (idiom); once bitten twice shy

CHARACTERS

一 yī one; a, an; alone
年 nián year; new-years; person's age
被 bèi passive indicator 'by'; bedding
蛇 shé snake
咬 yǎo bite, gnaw
十 shí ten, tenth; complete; perfect
年 nián year; new-years; person's age
怕 pà to fear, be afraid of; apprehensive
井 jǐng well, mine shaft, pit
繩 shéng rope, string, cord; measure, restrain