警
Character Story & Explanation
警 is deeply embedded in modern Chinese civic life: it appears in official terms like 警察 (jǐngchá, 'police'), 警报 (jǐngbào, 'alarm'), and national slogans like 提高警惕 (tígāo jǐtì, 'raise vigilance'). Historically, it appeared in classical texts such as the *Zuo Zhuan* (c. 4th century BCE) meaning 'to warn' or 'to admonish', often in contexts of state counsel or moral instruction. Today, red '警' signs mark hazardous zones across China, and police uniforms prominently feature the character.
The character evolved from seal script, where the left side clearly showed 言 (speech) and the right resembled 敬 (reverence) — not a pictograph, but a semantic-phonetic compound. Its form has remained stable since Han dynasty clerical script, reflecting its enduring role in formal warnings and public safety communication.
Hi students! The character 警 (jǐng) is an important HSK Level 4 word meaning 'to alert', 'to warn', or 'to be on guard'. It’s built around the 言 (yán) radical — the ‘speech’ or ‘words’ component — showing that this action involves verbal or official communication. Think of it as a formal, urgent kind of warning — not just casual advice, but something that calls for attention and readiness.
The right side, 敬 (jìng), means 'respect' or 'reverence', and here it serves as the phonetic component (though pronunciation has shifted over time). Together, 言 + 敬 suggests speech delivered with seriousness and authority — like a public announcement meant to awaken vigilance. This structure helps you remember both sound and sense.
Don’t confuse 警 with similar-looking characters like 惊 (jīng, 'to startle') — they share the 'alert' idea but differ in tone and usage. 警 is more deliberate and institutional; 惊 is emotional and sudden. Practice writing it slowly: 19 strokes, starting with the 言 radical on the left. Break it into parts: 言 (7 strokes), then 敬 (12 strokes) — and remember the dot before the final horizontal stroke in 敬!
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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