杀一儆百

殺一儆百

shāyì-jǐngbǎi

idiom #30,869

Meanings

HSK 7-9

法院重判此案，意在杀一儆百。

Fǎyuàn zhòngpàn cǐ àn, yì zài shāyì-jǐngbǎi.

The court handed down a harsh sentence, meaning to make an example.

HSK 7-9

公司开除他是为了杀一儆百。

Gōngsī kāichú tā shì wèile shāyì-jǐngbǎi.

The company fired him to send a warning to the rest.

history

From 《汉书·尹翁归传》: 以一警百 (warn the hundred with one). 儆 (alert, warn) survives mostly in this idiom; modern 警 is its common form.

杀 shā

一 yī

儆 jǐng

百 bǎi