punish one to warn a hundred
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to punish one person as a warning to others
formalUsed in formal or administrative contexts, often to emphasize the deterrent effect of punishment. The variants '惩一警百' and '惩一戒百' are also acceptable.
Zhè这
cì次
yán严
lì厉
chǔ处
fá罚
wéi违
guī规
zhě者
，
jiù就
shì是
wèi为
le了
chéng惩
yī一
jǐng警
bǎi百
，
dù杜
jué绝
lèi类
sì似
xíng行
wéi为
。
This severe punishment of the violator is precisely to make an example of them and put a stop to similar behavior.
Gōng公
sī司
jué决
dìng定
chéng惩
yī一
jǐng警
bǎi百
，
kāi开
chú除
nà那
míng名
xiè泄
lù露
jī机
mì密
de的
yuán员
gōng工
。
The company decided to make an example by firing the employee who leaked confidential information.
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Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
jūn军
fǎ法
zhōng中
，
jiàng将
lǐng领
cháng常
yòng用
chéng惩
yī一
jǐng警
bǎi百
de的
shǒu手
duàn段
lái来
wéi维
chí持
jì纪
lǜ律
。
In ancient military law, commanders often used the method of punishing one to warn a hundred to maintain discipline.