叮嘱

• Pinyin: dīng zhǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 叮 = 口 (mouth) + 丁 (nail — implies persistent, pointed insistence like a nail); 嘱 = 口 + 属 (to enjoin, instruct repeatedly)

Meaning

To urge with earnest, repeated advice; to remind or instruct someone emphatically, especially out of genuine care or concern.

叮嘱 conveys warm, insistent guidance — parents 叮嘱 children before they leave home, doctors 叮嘱 patients about medication, elders 叮嘱 the young about important matters. The 叮 component (a persistent chime-like sound) gives it a tone of sincere, caring emphasis.

Examples

1. 临行前，母亲再三叮嘱她在外一定要照顾好自己，按时吃饭，不要因为工作繁忙而忽视健康。 Before she left, her mother reminded her again and again to take good care of herself, eat on time, and not neglect her health because of a busy workload.
2. 医生认真地叮嘱患者每天必须按时服药，绝对不能因为症状稍有好转就擅自停药减量。 The doctor carefully instructed the patient to take the medicine on schedule every day and never to stop or reduce it on their own just because symptoms improved a little.
3. 领导在会议结束时特意叮嘱各部门负责人，保密工作务必做到位，任何核心信息不得外泄。 At the end of the meeting, the leader specifically reminded the heads of all departments that confidentiality must be handled properly and that no core information may be leaked.

Usage Guide

Context: family, healthcare, professional guidance, everyday speech

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 出发前，老师叮嘱学生们注意行车安全，到达目的地后第一时间向带队老师报到。(Before departure, the teacher urged the students to pay attention to road safety and to report to the group leader immediately upon arriving at the destination.)
• 朋友临别时握着她的手叮嘱道，无论遇到什么困难，都要记得联系他，绝不能一个人扛着。(At parting, her friend took her hand and earnestly urged her that no matter what difficulties she encountered, she should remember to reach out — she must never carry the burden alone.)

Don't Say

• 他叮嘱我要高兴 — 叮嘱 conveys substantive, practical guidance rooted in genuine concern; it cannot be used for trivial or unactionable emotional commands such as 'be happy'

Origin & History

叮 (to sting; to chime persistently — implies pointed, repeated insistence) + 嘱 (to enjoin, to instruct with repeated emphasis)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal