杀鸡骇猴 — “To make an example of someone to warn others”
杀鸡骇猴 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make an example of someone to warn others”. To punish one to deter others. Literally, “Kill the chicken to frighten the monkey”.
杀鸡骇猴 Pronunciation and Pinyin
杀鸡骇猴 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 杀鸡骇猴
Origin and Story of 杀鸡骇猴
Once upon a time, a monkey trainer bought a disobedient monkey.
The trainer was very angry, so he went to the market and bought a rooster. He continuously beat gongs and drums in front of the rooster, which became frightened and dazed. The trainer seized the opportunity to kill the rooster with a knife.
The monkey sitting nearby was also terrified. From then on, whenever the trainer said something or beat the gongs and drums, the monkey would immediately and unequivocally obey the trainer's commands.
Idioms Related to 杀鸡骇猴
More idioms starting with 杀
- shā杀yī一lì利bǎi百punish one to warn many
- shā杀yī一lì砺bǎi百punish one to warn many
- shā杀yī一jǐng警bǎi百punish one to warn many
- shā杀rén人bù不yòng用dāo刀destroy reputation without violence
- shā杀rén人bù不zhǎ眨yǎn眼ruthless and merciless killer
- shā杀rén人bù不jiàn见xuè血harm insidiously without trace
- shā杀rén人cháng偿mìng命，，qiàn欠zhài债huán还qián钱Life for a life, debt for a debt
- shā杀rén人jié劫cái财kill people and rob property
- shā杀rén人rú如jiè芥slaughter people like weeds
- shā杀rén人rú如cǎo草slaughter people like grass
- shā杀rén人rú如hāo蒿slaughter people on a massive scale
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Open the tool →Questions about 杀鸡骇猴
What does 杀鸡骇猴 mean?
杀鸡骇猴 (shā jī hài hóu) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make an example of someone to warn others”.
How do you pronounce 杀鸡骇猴?
杀鸡骇猴 is pronounced shā jī hài hóu in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 杀鸡骇猴 literally mean?
Literally, 杀鸡骇猴 means “Kill the chicken to frighten the monkey”. It is used to mean “to make an example of someone to warn others”.
Where does 杀鸡骇猴 come from?
杀鸡骇猴 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to the modern era. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 杀鸡骇猴?
传说猴子怕见血，驯猴的人便杀鸡放血来恐吓猴子。比喻惩罚一人以恐吓或警戒其他人。