杀彘教子

殺彘教子

shāzhì-jiàozǐ

idiom

Meanings

1 to kill a pig to teach a child
2 parents must keep their word and teach by example

Characters

Examples

HSK 3

做父母的应该有杀彘教子的精神。

Zuò fùmǔ de yīnggāi yǒu shāzhì-jiàozǐ de jīngshén.

Parents should have the spirit of 'killing the pig to teach the child' - practicing what they preach.

HSK 7-9

曾子杀彘教子的故事告诉我们要言而有信。

Zēng zǐ shāzhì-jiàozǐ de gùshì gàosù wǒmen yào yán'éryǒuxìn.

Zengzi's story of killing a pig to teach his child reminds us to keep our word.

Tips

history

From 《韩非子·外储说左上》: Zengzi's wife jokingly told their crying son she'd kill a pig for him if he stopped. When she came back, Zengzi was actually killing the pig - 'A child trusts his parents; if you deceive him, you teach him to deceive.' The phrase has stood for parental integrity ever since.

Stroke Order

杀 shā

彘 zhì

教 jiāo

子 zǐ