提醒

• Pinyin: tí xǐng
• Hanzi breakdown: 提 = 扌(hand radical) + 是 (is/this, phonetic component); 醒 = 酉 (wine vessel radical) + 星 (star, phonetic component)

Meaning

To remind; to alert; to give a heads-up. To draw someone's attention to something they may have forgotten or overlooked.

Used when someone points out something important so that another person does not miss it or makes an error. Can be used in both serious and casual everyday situations. Often followed by the person being reminded and the content of the reminder, e.g., 提醒他 + clause.

Examples

1. 我提醒他明天有重要的会议，千万不要忘记。 I reminded him that there's an important meeting tomorrow and he absolutely shouldn't forget.
2. 老师提醒学生考试时要认真检查每一道答案。 The teacher reminded students to carefully check every answer during the exam.
3. 妈妈每天早上都提醒我出门的时候要带钥匙。 Every morning, Mum reminds me to take my keys when I go out.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, education, workplace

Tone: helpful

Do Say

• 谢谢你提醒我，我差点忘了。(Thank you for reminding me; I almost forgot.)
• 我想提醒大家，明天的活动改到下午三点了。(I'd like to remind everyone that tomorrow's event has been moved to 3 p.m.)

Don't Say

• 你记得提我那件事。(This is ambiguous — say 你提醒我那件事 to clearly mean 'remind me about that matter.')

Origin & History

Compound of 提 (to bring up/raise) and 醒 (awake/to wake), together meaning 'to rouse someone's awareness.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal