jǐnggào: 警告 - Warning, Caution, Admonition

Keywords: 警告, jǐnggào, Chinese for warning, Chinese for caution, warn in Chinese, jǐnggào meaning, 警告 meaning, Chinese safety sign, Chinese legal warning, HSK 5, admonish in Chinese.

Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 警告 (jǐnggào), the essential Chinese word for “warning” or “caution.” This page explores how jǐnggào is used in formal, official, and serious contexts—from safety signs and legal notices to firm advice from a doctor or parent. Understand its cultural weight and learn how to distinguish it from a simple reminder to use it effectively and avoid common mistakes.

Pinyin (with tone marks): jǐnggào

Part of Speech: Verb / Noun

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: To warn or caution someone about a potential danger or negative consequence; a formal warning.

In a Nutshell: 警告 (jǐnggào) is not your everyday, casual “watch out!” It's a serious and often formal word that implies a significant negative outcome if ignored. Think of the word you'd see on a high-voltage box, hear from a judge in a courtroom, or receive from a teacher about the risk of failing a class. It carries a sense of authority and gravity.

警 (jǐng): This character means “to be alert,” “to guard against,” or “to police.” It's composed of 敬 (jìng), which suggests alertness and respect, and 言 (yán), meaning “speech.” So, it's about “alerting speech.”

告 (gào): This character means “to tell,” “to inform,” or “to announce.” Its ancient form depicted a mouth (口) and an ox horn, symbolizing a loud, public announcement.

Combined Meaning: When you put them together, 警告 (jǐnggào) literally means “to alertly tell” or “to announce an alert.” This perfectly captures the modern meaning of issuing a formal warning about a potential danger or problem.

In Chinese culture, communication can often be hierarchical. A 警告 (jǐnggào) is typically issued from a position of authority, knowledge, or responsibility to someone in a lower or less informed position. This could be the government warning its citizens, a doctor warning a patient, or a parent warning a child.

Comparison with “Warning”: While “warning” in English can be very broad, 警告 (jǐnggào) is narrower and more formal. An American friend might “warn” you that a movie is bad, but using jǐnggào in that context would sound bizarre and overly dramatic. For a casual heads-up, a Chinese speaker would use 提醒 (tíxǐng - to remind). Using jǐnggào elevates the situation, signaling that the consequences are real and should be taken seriously. This reflects a cultural tendency to reserve such strong language for situations that truly warrant it, respecting the authority behind the warning.

Legal and Formal Contexts: In law, a 警告 is an official admonition. An employer might issue a “written warning” (书面警告 shūmiàn jǐnggào) to an employee.

Authoritative Advice: Professionals use this term to convey the seriousness of their advice. A doctor might 警告 a patient to stop smoking, implying severe health consequences if they don't.

Personal but Serious Confrontations: It can be used directly between people to draw a hard line. Saying “我警告你…” (Wǒ jǐnggào nǐ…, “I'm warning you…”) is a very strong and confrontational statement, often used in anger as a final warning before taking action.

提醒 (tíxǐng) - To remind. The most common alternative for a gentle, friendly heads-up. It's the opposite of 警告 in terms of severity.

注意 (zhùyì) - To pay attention. An instruction to be aware, often seen on signs, but more general than 警告. (e.g., “注意安全” - Pay attention to safety).

小心 (xiǎoxīn) - To be careful; Be careful! A direct command to be cautious in the immediate moment.

危险 (wēixiǎn) - Danger; Dangerous. The reason for a 警告. The two words often appear together.

忠告 (zhōnggào) - Sincere advice; counsel. This is a type of warning given out of loyalty or care, often from a friend or mentor. It's more personal and less authoritative than 警告.

告诫 (gàojiè) - To admonish; to warn against (especially moral failings). This is more formal and literary than 警告.

威胁 (wēixié) - To threaten; a threat. While 警告 can be a threat (“I'm warning you!”), 威胁 is explicitly about the intent to cause harm if the demand is not met. It is more malicious.