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
The idiom 杀一儆百 (shā yī jǐng bǎi) originates from a story in the Eastern Han dynasty, as recorded in the 'Book of Han' (汉书) by Ban Gu (班固). It tells of a man named Yin Wengui (尹翁归), who was known for his integrity and courage. As a local official, he sought to uphold justice by targeting corrupt officials and criminals. In one notable instance, he executed a notorious criminal named Xu Zhongsun (许仲孙) in public. This act of executing one (杀, shā) served to warn and deter many others (儆百, jǐng bǎi) from engaging in similar misconduct. The idiom emphasizes the strategic use of severe punishment to maintain order and discipline. In modern usage, it describes taking decisive action against a few to serve as a warning to many.
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
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xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
Have clear plan beforehand
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步步为营
bù bù wéi yíng
Advance methodically with caution
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退避三舍
tuì bì sān shè
Make concessions to avoid conflict
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旁敲侧击
páng qiāo cè jī
Approach indirectly to achieve goal
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暗度陈仓
àn dù chén cāng
Achieve secretly through misdirection
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釜底抽薪
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Eliminate root cause of problem
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推波助澜
tuī bō zhù lán
Amplifying existing trends or momentum
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鹬蚌相争
yù bàng xiāng zhēng
Mutual conflict benefits third party
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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”.