以儆效尤 (yǐ jǐng xiào yóu) — to make an example of somebody to warn others; (as a) warning to all

Definition

Classical four-character idiom meaning to punish one person harshly so others won't dare follow. Always used in formal, written Chinese — typically in legal, corporate, or official contexts.

verb
to make an example of somebody to warn others(as a) warning to all

Examples

  • ，以儆效尤。
    Gōng sī jué dìng yán lì chǔ fá tā, yǐ jǐng xiào yóu.
    The company decided to punish him severely as a warning to others.
  • ，以儆效尤。
    Fǎ yuàn duì zhè míng guān yuán cóng zhòng pàn xíng, yǐ jǐng xiào yóu.
    The court gave the official a heavy sentence to serve as a deterrent.
  • ，以儆效尤。
    Xué xiào tōng bào pī píng le zuò bì de xué shēng, yǐ jǐng xiào yóu.
    The school publicly criticized the cheating students to warn others.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
敬
敬jìng儆
Same sound today

In 儆, the left part 人 marks a person, while the right part 敬 supplies the sound.

Open 儆 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攵Written in full as攴pūto strike; action
Sound part声符shēngfú
交
交jiāo效xiào
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

效 pairs 攵 (written in full as 攴), meaning “to strike; action,” with 交, which gives the sound.

Open 效 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

尤 pictures a hand with a wart.

Open 尤 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.