杀一儆百
杀一儆百 (shā yī jǐng bǎi) literally means “kill one warn a hundred” and expresses “punish to deter others”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: sha yi jing bai, sha yi jing bai,杀一儆百 meaning, 杀一儆百 in english
Punish to deter others
Pronunciation: shā yī jǐng bǎi Literal meaning: Kill one warn a hundred
Origin & Usage
Yin Wengui, taking up a difficult post, opened by prosecuting the single most protected criminal in the district rather than the easiest, and executed him. The Book of Han reports that the rest gave no further trouble. Killing (杀) one (一) to caution (儆) a hundred (百) is a statement about audience: the punishment is not aimed at the person receiving it. That is also its problem, which Chinese discussions of the phrase have always recognised, since the one selected is being used as a message.
Examples
English: "The company decided to fire one employee as a warning to others about the importance of compliance."
Chinese: 公司决定杀一儆百，以警示其他员工遵守规定。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
孤注一掷
gū zhù yī zhì
All-in risk
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杀鸡取卵
shā jī qǔ luǎn
Sacrifice long-term benefits for short-term gains
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借刀杀人
jiè dāo shā rén
Indirect manipulation
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将计就计
jiāng jì jiù jì
Turn the enemy's own plot against him
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里应外合
lǐ yìng wài hé
An inside accomplice working with an outside force
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身先士卒
shēn xiān shì zú
Leadership by action
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投鼠忌器
tóu shǔ jì qì
Held back from striking by fear of collateral damage
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以逸待劳
yǐ yì dài láo
Rested against the exhausted
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 杀一儆百 mean in English?
杀一儆百 (shā yī jǐng bǎi) literally translates to “Kill one warn a hundred” and is used to express “Punish to deter others”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 杀一儆百 used?
Situation: The company decided to fire one employee as a warning to others about the importance of compliance.
What is the pinyin for 杀一儆百?
The pinyin pronunciation for 杀一儆百 is “shā yī jǐng bǎi”.