警报
jǐngbào
The English phrase 'alarm' is translated into Chinese as 警报 (jǐngbào).
警报 is used to refer to an alarm or a warning signal, particularly in the context of emergency situations or official warning systems.
Meaning: mechanical contrivance for awaking (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of 警 (jǐng), meaning to warn or alert and 报 (bào), meaning to report or announce.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between different types of alarms. 警报 refers to a warning siren or an alarm system used for alerts, whereas 闹钟 (nàozhōng) is the specific term used for an alarm clock used for waking up.
How do you pronounce it?
jǐngbào
Did you know?
- The term 闹 in the alarm clock 闹钟 can also be used as a verb meaning 'to quarrel', suggesting the clock is 'quarreling' with your sleep.
- In Chinese, if someone is 'sounding the alarm' in a metaphorical sense to warn others of a danger, they often use the phrase 敲响警钟, which literally means 'striking the alarm bell'.
- If you use the word 警报 to ask someone to wake you up, they might think there is a national emergency or a natural disaster occurring.
Examples in context
- 火警警报响了。The fire alarm sounded.This sentence is useful for describing a fire alarm using 警报.Tatoeba #334258 by fucongcong, translation #23848 by CK
- 我在检查这里有没有激光警报装置。I'm checking for laser beam alarm triggers.This sentence shows the use of 警报 when checking for security devices like laser beam alarm triggers.Tatoeba #4302150 by trieuho, translation #4302152 by trieuho
- 请立刻关闭警报！(Qǐng lìkè guānbì jǐngbào!)Please turn off the alarm immediately!
- 请拨打报警电话！(Qǐng bōdǎ bàojǐng diànhuà!)Please dial the alarm hotline!
- 明天早上我需要设置闹铃。(Míngtiān zǎoshang wǒ xūyào shèzhì nàolíng.)Tomorrow morning, I need to set an alarm.
- 油箱低油量的警示灯一直亮着。(Yóuxiāng dī yóuliàng de jǐngshì dēng yìzhí liàngzhe.)The low fuel warning light on the gas tank has been on.
- 防盗警报器坏了。Fángdào jǐngbàoqì huài le.The burglar alarm is broken.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Xiaowen and Junjie are talking about waking up early.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你设置警报了吗？Nǐ shèzhì jǐngbào le ma?Did you set the alarm?
- 俊杰 Junjie我设置了，六点钟。Wǒ shèzhì le, liù diǎn zhōng.I set it for six o'clock.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen希望警报能把你吵醒。Xīwàng jǐngbào néng bǎ nǐ chǎoxǐng.I hope the alarm wakes you up.
- 俊杰 Junjie没问题，我一定能起来。Méi wèntí, wǒ yīdìng néng qǐlái.No problem, I will definitely get up.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
