ancient capital punishment; display severed head
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to decapitate and display the severed head (as a form of ancient capital punishment)
archaicRefers specifically to the ancient Chinese penal practice of beheading a criminal and publicly displaying the head as a deterrent. Rarely used in modern contexts except historically or metaphorically.
Gǔ古
dài代
pàn叛
nì逆
zhě者
cháng常
bèi被
bǔ捕
huò获
hòu后
xiāo枭
shǒu首
shì示
zhòng众
。
In ancient times, rebels were often captured, beheaded, and their heads publicly displayed.
Dí敌
jūn军
jiàng将
lǐng领
bèi被
xiāo枭
shǒu首
hòu后
，
xuán悬
yú于
chéng城
mén门
sān三
rì日
。
The enemy general was decapitated and his head hung at the city gate for three days.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Zhè这
zhǒng种
xiāo枭
shǒu首
de的
cán残
kǔ酷
xíng刑
fá罚
zǎo早
yǐ已
fèi废
chú除
。
This cruel punishment of decapitation and public display was abolished long ago.