punish one to warn many
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
punish one person as a warning to others
formalUsed to describe a strategy of making an example of someone to deter others from wrongdoing. The variant form '惩一儆百' (chéng yī jǐng bǎi) is equally common, with '儆' also meaning 'to warn'.
Wèi为
le了
zhěng整
dùn顿
jì纪
lǜ律
，
guǎn管
lǐ理
céng层
jué决
dìng定
chéng惩
yī一
jǐng警
bǎi百
，
yán严
sù肃
chǔ处
lǐ理
le了
dài带
tóu头
wéi违
guī规
de的
yuán员
gōng工
。
To enforce discipline, management decided to make an example by severely punishing the employee who led the violation.
Gǔ古
dài代
jiàng将
lǐng领
cháng常
yòng用
chéng惩
yī一
jǐng警
bǎi百
de的
fāng方
fǎ法
lái来
wéi维
chí持
jūn军
duì队
de的
wēi威
yán严
。
Ancient generals often used the method of punishing one to warn many to maintain the army's authority.
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Xué学
xiào校
de的
zhè这
xiàng项
yán严
lì厉
chǔ处
fá罚
pō颇
yǒu有
chéng惩
yī一
jǐng警
bǎi百
de的
xiào效
guǒ果
。
The school's severe punishment had the effect of making an example to deter others.