警钟

• Pinyin: jǐng zhōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 警 = 敬 + 言 — a warning utterance; 钟 = 钅(metal) + 童 (phonetic) — metal bell

Meaning

Alarm bell; warning bell; a signal of danger or alert.

Literally a bell used to sound an alarm; figuratively used to mean a wake-up call or a warning signal. The phrase 敲响警钟 (to sound the alarm bell) is extremely common in editorials, policy speeches, and social commentary to mean 'to issue a serious warning.' Almost always used metaphorically in modern Chinese.

Examples

1. 这次食品安全事件再次为全社会敲响了警钟。 This food safety incident has once again sounded the alarm bell for the whole of society.
2. 青少年犯罪率上升的数据为家长和学校敲响了警钟。 The data showing a rise in juvenile crime rates has sounded a warning for parents and schools.
3. 当年那场大火就像一口警钟，让全城人意识到了消防安全的重要性。 That fire back then was like an alarm bell, making the entire city aware of the importance of fire safety.

Usage Guide

Context: social commentary, editorial, policy

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 这份报告为行业发展敲响了警钟。(This report has sounded an alarm bell for the development of the industry.)
• 我们要时刻把警钟挂在心头。(We should always keep the alarm bell in mind — stay ever-vigilant.)

Don't Say

• 我买了个警钟放在桌上。(In modern usage, 警钟 is almost always figurative — for an actual alarm clock or bell, use 闹钟 or 警报)

Origin & History

警 (warning) + 钟 (bell). Historically, alarm bells were rung in cities and military camps to signal danger. The compound 警钟 extends this into a powerful metaphor for warnings in public discourse.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal