諺語 · a single proverb
殺雞儆猴
Simplified: 杀鸡儆猴
What does 殺雞儆猴 (shā jī jǐng hóu) mean?
殺雞儆猴 (shā jī jǐng hóu) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "kill the chicken to warn the monkey." In use it means: Punish one to warn others; use an example to discourage others from similar behavior. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Monkey.
Literally: "kill the chicken to warn the monkey."
The reading
The lesson is meant for the watching, not only the one who receives it. Order is sometimes maintained not by constant enforcement but by memorable example, a single clear signal that travels further than any repeated warning. The monkey that watches understands what cannot be explained.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese proverb (common in political and management contexts)
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Courage & Decisive Action, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Monkey, Year of the Ox, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 殺雞儆猴 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 殺雞儆猴 (shā jī jǐng hóu) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese proverb (common in political and management contexts). It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 殺雞儆猴?
In Mandarin it is shā jī jǐng hóu. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 殺雞儆猴 aloud in Mandarin.