How to say "caution" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 警戒けいかいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCaution as vigilance: staying alert and on guard against possible danger. It names a watchful state—guarding against crime or suspicious behavior—rather than a warning spoken to someone.
- 警告けいこくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbChiefly a warning: caution in the sense of telling someone of danger or fault, whether spoken or official. When English 'caution' means a warning issued to a person, this is the word to use.
- 戒めいましめnounCaution as a lesson or admonition drawn from an event: something that warns you not to repeat a mistake. Fits contexts like 'let this be a caution to you,' where the emphasis is moral instruction.これを戒めとしなさい。↗Let this be an example to you.
- 戒告かいこくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCaution in the special sense of an official reprimand: a disciplinary admonition for misconduct. For caution as everyday care or a spoken warning, it is seldom the word you want.
- 用心ようじんnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCaution as everyday care and precaution: taking care to avoid trouble or danger. General carefulness rather than vigilance directed at a particular danger, and not a warning given to someone.火には、用心しなさい。↗Be on your guard against fire.
Choose 用心 for caution as general care, 警戒 for vigilance against possible danger, 警告 for a caution that is a warning to someone, 「戒め」 for a caution serving as a lesson, 戒告 for a formal disciplinary reprimand.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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