殺雞給猴看 shā jī gěi hóu kàn

DEFINITIONS

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

CHARACTERS

殺 shā kill, slaughter, murder; hurt; to pare off, reduce, clip
雞 jī chickens; domestic fowl
給 gěi give; by, for
猴 hóu
HSK 5
monkey, ape; monkey-like
看 kàn
HSK 1
look, see; examine, scrutinize