杀鸡给猴看 shā jī gěi hóu kàn

punish one to warn others

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. lit. to kill a chicken in front of a monkey; fig. to make an example of sb (by punishment) to frighten others

Characters

Character Meaning
杀 shā HSK 5
to kill; to attack; to weaken or reduce
鸡 jī HSK 2
chicken; fowl; (slang) prostitute
给 gěi HSK 2
to; for; to give
猴 hóu HSK 5
monkey
看 kàn HSK 1
to see; to look at; to watch