execute one to warn a hundred; make an example of
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to execute one person as a warning to many; to punish one as an example to others
formalA classical Chinese idiom (成语) originating from legal and military contexts. It describes the strategy of punishing one individual severely to deter others from committing similar offenses. Often used in management, legal, and political contexts. A variant form uses 儆 (jǐng) instead of 警.
Wǒ我
men们
bì必
xū须
shā杀
yī一
jǐng警
bǎi百
，
yǐ以
jǐng儆
xiào效
yóu尤
。
We must execute one as a warning to others to deter potential offenders.
Zhèng政
fǔ府
jué决
dìng定
shā杀
yī一
jǐng警
bǎi百
，
yán严
chéng惩
shǒu首
fàn犯
。
The government decided to make an example of the ringleader by punishing him severely.
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Jīng经
lǐ理
shā杀
yī一
jǐng警
bǎi百
，
kāi开
chú除
le了
yī一
míng名
jīng经
cháng常
chí迟
dào到
de的
yuán员
gōng工
。
The manager made an example by firing an employee who was often late.