Meaning and Usage
"警钟" literally means "alarm bell" and is used both in a literal sense and metaphorically. Literally, it refers to a bell that signals danger or an emergency, such as a fire alarm or warning bell.
Metaphorically, "警钟" is often used to describe a warning or alert about a potential problem or risk, especially in social, environmental, or safety contexts. When someone says "敲响警钟" (sound the alarm bell), they mean raising awareness or alerting others to a serious issue.
Common Collocations
- 敲响警钟: to sound the alarm, to raise a warning
- 警钟长鸣: the alarm bell keeps ringing, indicating ongoing danger or concern
- 警钟响起: the alarm bell rings, often signaling immediate action
Usage Notes
"警钟" is typically used in formal or semi-formal contexts, such as news reports, speeches, or written warnings. It conveys urgency and seriousness.
Avoid confusing "警钟" with general words for "warning" like "警告"; "警钟" emphasizes the alert nature, often implying a call to action.
When used literally, it often appears in emergency or safety-related contexts, while metaphorically it highlights the importance of paying attention to risks before they escalate.
Meaning and Usage
"警钟" literally means "alarm bell" and is used both in a literal sense and metaphorically. Literally, it refers to a bell that signals danger or an emergency, such as a fire alarm or warning bell.
Metaphorically, "警钟" is often used to describe a warning or alert about a potential problem or risk, especially in social, environmental, or safety contexts. When someone says "敲响警钟" (sound the alarm bell), they mean raising awareness or alerting others to a serious issue.
Common Collocations
- 敲响警钟: to sound the alarm, to raise a warning
- 警钟长鸣: the alarm bell keeps ringing, indicating ongoing danger or concern
- 警钟响起: the alarm bell rings, often signaling immediate action
Usage Notes
"警钟" is typically used in formal or semi-formal contexts, such as news reports, speeches, or written warnings. It conveys urgency and seriousness.
Avoid confusing "警钟" with general words for "warning" like "警告"; "警钟" emphasizes the alert nature, often implying a call to action.
When used literally, it often appears in emergency or safety-related contexts, while metaphorically it highlights the importance of paying attention to risks before they escalate.
Meaning and Usage
"警钟" literally means "alarm bell" and is used both in a literal sense and metaphorically. Literally, it refers to a bell that signals danger or an emergency, such as a fire alarm or warning bell.
Metaphorically, "警钟" is often used to describe a warning or alert about a potential problem or risk, especially in social, environmental, or safety contexts. When someone says "敲响警钟" (sound the alarm bell), they mean raising awareness or alerting others to a serious issue.
Common Collocations
- 敲响警钟: to sound the alarm, to raise a warning
- 警钟长鸣: the alarm bell keeps ringing, indicating ongoing danger or concern
- 警钟响起: the alarm bell rings, often signaling immediate action
Usage Notes
"警钟" is typically used in formal or semi-formal contexts, such as news reports, speeches, or written warnings. It conveys urgency and seriousness.
Avoid confusing "警钟" with general words for "warning" like "警告"; "警钟" emphasizes the alert nature, often implying a call to action.
When used literally, it often appears in emergency or safety-related contexts, while metaphorically it highlights the importance of paying attention to risks before they escalate.