警告

けいこく

warning

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word 警告 (けいこく) means "warning" and is used to alert someone about danger, mistakes, or rules that should be followed. It can be a noun or a verb (when combined with する).

Common Contexts

You will often see 警告 in safety instructions, software alerts, or when someone is verbally warning another person about behavior or consequences.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 警告を出す: to issue a warning
  • 警告を受ける: to receive a warning
  • 警告する: to warn someone
  • 警告表示: warning display (often on devices or software)

Register and Nuance

警告 is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is more serious than casual advice and implies a need to pay attention to avoid problems.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 警告 with 注意 (ちゅうい), which also means "caution" or "attention." 警告 is stronger and often implies a formal or official warning, while 注意 can be more casual or general advice.

Example Sentences

このきかいはつかいかたをまちがえるときけんなので、かならずけいこくをよんでください。

This machine is dangerous if used incorrectly, so please be sure to read the warning.

せんせいはがくせいにちこくしないようにけいこくした。

The teacher warned the students not to be late.

このそふとはういるすのかのうせいがあるので、けいこくがひょうじされました。

A warning was displayed because this software might contain a virus.