草菅人命 to treat human life as grass
Explanation
草菅人命比喻统治者随意残杀人民，视人命如草芥。体现了对人权的漠视和践踏。
The idiom describes the arbitrary killing of people by rulers who consider human life valueless. It reflects the disregard and violation of human rights.
Origin Story
汉文帝时期，奸臣当道，滥杀无辜，百姓苦不堪言。一位正直的官员上书汉文帝，痛斥奸臣草菅人命的暴行，并陈述了民生疾苦。汉文帝深受触动，下令彻查，并将奸臣绳之以法，从此百姓得以安居乐业。
During the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, corrupt officials wielded arbitrary power and killed innocent people, leading to widespread suffering among the people. An upright official dared to submit a document to the emperor, denouncing the atrocities of these corrupt officials and exposing the people's plight. Emperor Wen, deeply moved by the report, ordered a thorough investigation and punished the corrupt officials.
Usage
草菅人命常用于谴责那些滥杀无辜、残暴不仁的统治者或行为。
The idiom is often used to condemn those who kill innocent people indiscriminately and are cruel and unrighteous, both rulers and their actions.
Examples
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他草菅人命，视百姓如草芥。
ta caojian renming, shi baixing ru caojie
He disregarded human life and treated the people like weeds.
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暴君草菅人命，民不聊生。
baojun caojian renming, minbuliao sheng
The tyrant disregarded human life, and the people suffered from poverty and distress.