警告

• Reading: けいこく
• Romaji: keikoku
• Kanji breakdown: 警 (kei) — warn, guard, police; 告 (koku) — tell, announce, inform
• Pronunciation: /keː.ko.kɯ/

Meaning

Warning; caution. A notice given to alert someone of danger or unacceptable behavior.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (警告する). Used for official warnings from authorities, system alerts, referee cautions in sports, and serious interpersonal warnings. Stronger and more formal than 注意 (caution). Common in legal, medical, and safety contexts. A yellow card in soccer is a 警告.

Examples

1. 医者から健康について警告を受けた。 I received a warning from the doctor about my health.
2. 地震の警告が出たのですぐに避難した。 An earthquake warning was issued, so we evacuated immediately.
3. 先生は遅刻した生徒に警告を与えた。 The teacher gave the late student a warning.

Usage Guide

Context: safety, legal, sports

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 警 (kei, to warn/guard) and 告 (koku, to tell/announce). Together, 'telling someone to be on guard' — a formal notification of impending risk.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal