杀人
How to Understand
杀人 (shā rén) means 'murder' in English. It refers to the act of intentionally killing someone, typically considered a serious crime in most societies.
The character 杀 (shā) originally meant 'to kill' and is derived from the image of a person being struck by a weapon. 人 (rén) means 'person' or 'people.' Together, they form the concept of 'killing a person,' which directly translates to 'murder.'
In Chinese culture, murder is viewed as a grave violation of social order and morality. The term is often used in legal contexts, news reports, and literature. It's important to note that while 杀人 can be literal, it is also used metaphorically in some expressions, such as 杀鸡儆猴 (shā jī jǐng hóu), meaning 'to kill the chicken to scare the monkey,' which conveys the idea of using an example to warn others.