Objective To understand the subjective experience of violent behavior in patients with schizophrenia and provide a basis for the clinical formulation of effective violence prevention measures. Methods A descriptive phenomenological approach was adopted to guide the study. Fifteen patients with stable phase schizophrenia were purposively recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed following Colaizzi′s phenomenological method. Results Three themes and nine sub-themes were identified: triggers of violent behavior (symptoms of illness, family environment, and social environment and sudden events), psychological experiences following violent behavior(regret and guilt, feelings of loss of control and powerlessness, and concerns about the consequences), and coping strategies (self- regulation, seeking external support,and treatment and reconstruction). Conclusion Violent behavior in patients with schizophrenia is triggered by the interplay among clinical symptoms, family and social environments. Healthcare professionals should carefully consider patients′ emotional and cognitive experiences and implement multidimensional interventions aimed at reducing violence risk and facilitating social functional recovery.