Hanzi Stroke Logo
Hanzi Stroke

Making Chinese characters easy to write.

Sister Sites
Five Elements TestChinese-Idioms.com
AboutProduct UpdatesPrivacy PolicyTerms of Service
DICTIONARY
  • Chinese Dictionary
  • Pinyin Index
  • Radical Index
  • Character Components
  • HSK Dictionary
  • Character Compare
DICTIONARY
  • Chinese Dictionary
  • Pinyin Index
  • Radical Index
  • Character Components
  • HSK Dictionary
  • Character Compare
TOOLS

Practice & Review

  • Writing Practice
  • Flashcard Review
  • Dictation Practice
  • Worksheet Generator
  • Sentence Practice
  • Hanzi Sticker Match

Resources & Utilities

  • Worksheet Library
  • HSK Level Checker
  • Pinyin Converter

Fun & Culture

  • Name Generator
  • Zodiac Calculator
TOOLS

Practice & Review

  • Writing Practice
  • Flashcard Review
  • Dictation Practice
  • Worksheet Generator
  • Sentence Practice
  • Hanzi Sticker Match

Resources & Utilities

  • Worksheet Library
  • HSK Level Checker
  • Pinyin Converter

Fun & Culture

  • Name Generator
  • Zodiac Calculator
LEARN
  • Learning Center
  • Blog
  • Chinese Stroke Rules
  • Chinese Poetry
  • Pro Membership ✨
LEARN
  • Learning Center
  • Blog
  • Chinese Stroke Rules
  • Chinese Poetry
  • Pro Membership ✨

© 2026 Hanzi Stroke. All rights reserved.

Made with♥for Chinese learners.
HanziStroke Logo
Hanzi Stroke
By CharacterBrowse all characters A-Z
By PinyinSearch by pronunciation
By RadicalFind by radical component
By ComponentsLearn meaning and sound clues
HSK ListsAll HSK versions overview
HSK 2.0
Practice & Review
Learning Essentials
  1. Home
  2. Dictionary
  3. 杀鸡儆猴

杀鸡儆猴 (shā jī jǐng hóu): To punish someone as a warning to others — Meaning & Stroke Order

Idiom
1.

Animated Stroke Order

Stroke order animation for 杀鸡儆猴
2.

Free Printable Worksheet: 杀鸡儆猴

Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 6
HSK 3.0
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 6Level 7-9
HSK Course Books
Writing PracticePractice HSK and saved words
Flashcard ReviewSRS review for HSK and custom decks
Dictation PracticeListen and write characters
Worksheet GeneratorCreate practice sheets for free
Sentence PracticeWrite complete sentences in context
Hanzi Sticker MatchFree pinyin–hanzi matching game
Resources & Utilities
Worksheet LibraryHSK, Top 100 & themed PDFs
HSK Level CheckerCheck HSK level of any text
Pinyin ConverterConvert Chinese to Pinyin
Fun & Culture
Name GeneratorCreate your Chinese name
Zodiac CalculatorFind your zodiac animal
View All Tools
8 Basic Strokes GuideHot
Foundation of all characters
Pinyin Tones Guide
4 tones with audio examples
Chinese Handwriting Guide
Daily practice routine
HSK 3.0 Complete GuideNew
New exam format explained
HSK 1 Common Mistakes
Avoid beginner errors
Topics & Culture
Chinese Numbers 1-1000
Count like a native
Time & Dates Guide
Tell time in Chinese
Family Members Guide
30+ family terms
2026 Fire Horse YearHot
Zodiac meaning & luck
Top 100 Characters
Most frequent, free PDF
View All Blog Posts
杀鸡儆猴 writing worksheet PDF preview
Download Worksheet
3.

Character Breakdown

杀 • shā • kill; slaughter; in the extreme • HSK 2.0 L5
HSK 5
shā杀

kill; slaughter; in the extreme

鸡 • jī • chicken; a domesticated bird • HSK 3.0 · L3
HSK 3.0 · L3
jī鸡

chicken; a domesticated bird

儆 • jǐng • warn; caution
jǐng儆

warn; caution

猴 • hóu • monkey
hóu猴

monkey

Word Info

Pinyinshā jī jǐng hóu
Meaningto punish someone as a warning to others
Characters4
Syntaxidiom

Learn the full idiom story

Read the origin story and cultural notes for 杀鸡儆猴
4.

Example Sentences with 杀鸡儆猴

lǎo老
bǎn板
kāi开
chú除
le了
nà那
ge个
chí迟
dào到
de的
yuán员
gōng工
,
shā杀
jī鸡
jǐng儆
hóu猴
,
ràng让
qí其
tā他
rén人
bù不
gǎn敢
zài再
chí迟
dào到
。
The boss fired the employee who was late, making an example of him so that others would not dare to be late again.
lǎo老
shī师
yán严
lì厉
pī批
píng评
le了
shuō说
huà话
de的
xué学
shēng生
,
shā杀
jī鸡
jǐng儆
hóu猴
,
jiào教
shì室
lǐ里
lì立
kè刻
ān安
jìng静
le了
。
The teacher severely criticized the student who was talking, making an example of him, and the classroom immediately became quiet.

Words Sharing Characters

More common words that include characters from 杀鸡儆猴.

Words with 杀
  • 抹杀mǒ shāblot out; obliterate; write off
  • 自杀zì shāto kill oneself
  • 屠杀tú shāMassacre / Slaughter
  • 杀害shā hàiTo kill / to murder
  • 杀手shā shǒuKiller / assassin
  • 杀毒shā dúkill viruses
  • 仇杀chóu shāvengeance killing
  • 凶杀xiōng shāmurder
Words with 鸡
  • 鸡蛋jī dàn(chicken) egg
  • 鹤立鸡群hè lì jī qúnStand out above others / Outstanding
  • 公鸡gōng jīcock
  • 小鸡xiǎo jīchick; small chicken
Words with 儆
  • 儆惧jǐngjùto be cautious and fearful
  • 儆戒jǐngjièto warn; to admonish
  • 儆醒jǐngxǐngto caution; to alert
  • 以儆效尤yǐjǐngxiàoyóuas a warning to others
Words with 猴
  • 猴子hóu zimonkey
  • 猕猴míhóumacaque (a type of monkey)
  • 猿猴yuán hóuapes and monkeys
  • 猕猴桃míhóutáokiwifruit (Chinese gooseberry)
斗鸡
dòu jī
cockfighting; gamecock
  • 母鸡mǔ jīhen
  • 火鸡huǒ jīturkey
  • 炸鸡zhá jīfried chicken
  • 杀一儆百
    shāyījǐngbǎi
    execute one as a warning to a hundred
    尖嘴猴腮
    jiān zuǐ hóu sāi
    describes someone with a thin, sharp, or ugly face, often implying a cunning or dishonest character.
  • 沐猴而冠mù hóu ér guànA worthless person dressed up in fine clothes; someone who puts on airs but lacks real substance or ability.
  • 猕猴骑虎mí hóu qí hǔBeing in a dangerous or precarious situation where one cannot easily disengage without risk.
  • 猴年马月hóu nián mǎ yuèA time that will never come; an impossible or extremely distant future.