Meaning
警惕 means to maintain a state of watchfulness or alertness against potential dangers, threats, or problems. It carries the sense of being cautious and on guard, ready to notice and respond to anything suspicious or harmful. The word implies an active, ongoing state of awareness rather than a passive one.
Usage
Commonly used in formal contexts, news reports, and official warnings to urge people to be careful about specific threats (fraud, disease, political issues, etc.). Often appears in phrases like '提高警惕' (raise vigilance) or '保持警惕' (maintain vigilance). Can function as both a verb ('我们要警惕') and an adjective ('保持警惕的态度').
Examples
- 01我们要警惕网络诈骗。.We must be vigilant against online fraud.
- 02在陌生的环境中要保持警惕。.You should remain vigilant in unfamiliar environments.
Characters
Common collocations
- 提高警惕to raise one's vigilance
- 保持警惕to remain vigilant
- 警惕性vigilance, alertness (noun)
- 高度警惕highly vigilant
Antonyms
Origin
警 originally referred to warnings or alerts, while 惕 means to be cautious or fearful. Together they form a compound emphasizing the mental state of watchful caution against potential harm.