戒备

• Pinyin: jiè bèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 戒 = 廾 + 戈 — to warn, guard; 备 = to prepare

Meaning

To be on guard; to take precautions; to be alert. Maintaining vigilance against potential threats.

Often used in military, security, and political contexts. 戒备森严 means 'heavily guarded.' Can also describe a psychological state of being wary or defensive toward someone.

Examples

1. 重要会议期间，整个会场戒备森严。 During the important meeting, the entire venue was heavily guarded.
2. 她对陌生人始终保持戒备心理。 She always maintains a guarded attitude toward strangers.
3. 警方已经提高了戒备等级，防止意外发生。 Police have raised the alert level to prevent accidents.

Usage Guide

Context: security, military, psychology

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 我们要提高戒备。(We need to heighten our vigilance.)
• 他对我放下了戒备。(He let his guard down around me.)

Don't Say

• 用'戒备'形容日常小心 (Don't use 戒备 for ordinary carefulness — it implies guarding against threats, not general caution)

Origin & History

Composed of 戒 (to guard against; to warn) + 备 (to prepare; to be ready). Together they describe preparing defenses and staying alert.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal