偿命

償命
chángmìng
verb #23,335

Meanings

  1. 1 to pay with one's life
  2. 2 to be executed for a killing
  3. 3 life for a life

Examples

Shārén chángmìng, zhè shì gǔdài de fǎzé.
A life for a life — this was the law of ancient times.
Tā bèi pàn chǔ sǐxíng, wèi tā de zuìxíng chángmìng.
He was sentenced to death, paying with his life for his crimes.

Tips

culture
杀人偿命欠债 (shārén chángmìng, qiàn zhài huán qián) — 'a killer pays with his life, a debtor repays his debt' — is a traditional Chinese legal proverb emphasizing proportional justice.

Stroke Order

cháng
mìng