打狗还得看主人 dǎ gǒu hái děi kàn zhǔ rén

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. when one beats a dog, one must answer to its master (idiom)
  2. fig. before punishing sb, one should consider how that would affect others associated with him

CHARACTERS

打 dǎ strike, hit, beat; fight; attack
狗 gǒu dog, canis familiaris
还 hái still, yet, also, besides
得 děi obtain, get, gain, acquire
看 kàn look, see; examine, scrutinize
主 zhǔ master, chief owner; host; lord
人 rén man; people; mankind; someone else