毒蛇

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 毒蛇 (どくじゃ) is a biological compound noun for a snake that is venomous.
• Basic usage: 毒蛇がいるかもしれない warns of a possibly living snake in the rocks, while 毒蛇の標本 denotes a preserved specimen on display.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Living animal and preserved specimen
  • The head of 毒蛇の標本 is 標本. It should not be recast as though a live venomous snake were present in the exhibit, as in 毒蛇がいる.