I want to prove that the kernel of the evaluation map $s_a : \mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots,x_n] \rightarrow \mathbb{C}, x_i \mapsto a_i$ where $a = (a_1,\dots, a_n) \in \mathbb{C}^n$ is the ideal generated by $\{x_1 - a_1, \dots, x_n - a_n\}$.
The proof in the book first shows it easily for the case $a = 0$, and says that by substitutions of variables $x_i' = x_i - a_i$, you can show it for the rest of the cases. I know that $f \in \ker s_a$ iff $f(a) = 0$. And $\phi : \mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots, x_n] \rightarrow \mathbb{C}[x_1 - a_1, \dots, x_n-a_n], x_i \mapsto x_i - a_i$ is a surjective ring homomorphism. Please give a hint and not the full answer. Thanks.