Chinese word

戒备

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiè bèi

Meaning

  • verbbe on alert

Example

看到可疑包裹，他立刻戒备起来。kàn dào kě yí bāo guǒ tā lì kè jiè bèi qǐ lái

When he saw the suspicious package, he immediately went on alert.

Illustration for 戒备 (be on alert)

More examples

和新同事相处时，他总是对对方戒备。hé xīn tóng shì xiāng chǔ shí tā zǒng shì duì duì fāng jiè bèi

When interacting with a new coworker, he is always wary of that person.

Core concept

The word presents a guarded state that turns signs of danger into readiness to protect against them.

Common phrases

  • 对来访者戒备duì lái fáng zhě jiè bèi

    be wary of visitors

  • 对陌生人戒备duì mò shēng rén jiè bèi

    be wary of strangers

Similar words

警惕jǐng tì: Keeping watch for danger or signs of unfriendly intent.
防备fáng bèi: Taking specific steps to prepare for or defend against possible harm.
提防dī fáng: Keeping careful watch around a person or situation to avoid trouble.

Definition in Chinese

在发现危险或异常迹象时，保持警觉并迅速进入防备状态。zài fā xiàn wēi xiǎn huò yì cháng jì xiàng shí bǎo chí jǐng jué bìng xùn sù jìn rù fáng bèi zhuàng tài

Word origin

戒 (jiè, "guard against") + 备 (bèi, "prepare") combines warning with preparation, so the word describes alertness that includes defensive readiness.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this verb often describes a more organized or sustained guarded stance than a brief moment of caution, and the target of that stance is commonly made explicit.

Other meanings

  • vigilancenoun
  • defensenoun
  • warinessnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 戒备心jiè bèi xīnwarinessnoun
  • 戒备状态jiè bèi zhuàng tàialert statenoun

Word lists with this word