警惕

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 我们要警惕诈骗。▶ —
   We must be on guard against fraud.
2. 听到响声，他立刻警惕起来。▶ —
   At the noise, he immediately became alert.

Collocations

Mnemonic

警 jǐng "to warn, be alert" + 惕 tì "to be wary, watchful": to be alert and watchful against danger, i.e. to be on guard, to be vigilant. Korean renders it as "vigilance, alertness". The attitude of watching for danger or wrongdoing without letting one’s guard down (提高警惕 to raise one’s guard, 保持警惕 to stay vigilant). 警 means "to warn, alert" (警告, 警察); 惕 means "to be wary" (rare outside 警惕). Unlike 顾虑 (misgiving), its core is guarding against danger.

Related

Quick check

1. What does 提高警惕 mean?

   • to raise one’s guard against danger
   • to lower one’s guard
   • to get very angry
   • to fall fast asleep