Definition
警钟 (jǐng zhōng) is a noun meaning 'alarm bell,' often used figuratively as a 'wake-up call' (e.g., 敲响警钟 'sound the alarm'). Unlike 警报 (jǐng bào), which is a general warning signal or alarm (like a siren or alert), 警钟 retains the concrete image of a bell and is typically reserved for serious, metaphorical warnings.
noun
alarm bell(figurative) warning signalwake-up call
Easily confused
- 敬重jìng zhòngsound-aliketo deeply respect, to revere, to esteem
Examples
- 警钟。Zhè cì shībài gěi wǒmen qiāoxiǎng le jǐng zhōng.This failure sounded an alarm bell for us.
- 警钟。Huánjìng èhuà yǐjīng qiāoxiǎng le shēngtài jǐng zhōng.Environmental degradation has already sounded an ecological alarm bell.
- 警钟。Nà zuò gǔ tǎ shàng guà zhe yì kǒu tóng zhì jǐng zhōng.A copper alarm bell hangs on that ancient pagoda.
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