‘偿命’ literally means ‘to repay life’—‘偿’ (cháng) means ‘to compensate, repay, or atone for,’ and ‘命’ (mìng) means ‘life’ or ‘life force.’ Together, the term expresses the ancient legal and moral idea that someone who commits intentional homicide must forfeit their own life as reparation. It reflects a principle of strict reciprocity—‘an eye for an eye, a life for a life’—and appears frequently in classical literature, historical accounts, and modern crime dramas.

This expression carries strong moral gravity and is rarely used in everyday speech; it’s mostly found in formal, literary, or judicial contexts—such as court verdicts, news reports on capital cases, or discussions of justice and retribution. While not legally binding in contemporary Chinese law (which has abolished blood revenge), ‘偿命’ remains a powerful cultural idiom conveying ultimate accountability for taking another’s life.