誡

Verb: To warn, admonish, or caution with corrective or preventative intent. It generally carries a sharper sense of urgency or moral peril than 訓 (xùn) or 諭 (yù).

Noun: A warning, a precept, or a cautionary lesson; the specific content of an admonition.

Typically functions as a transitive verb ([Subject] 誡 [Object]). It can also appear in compound structures acting as a modifier for following nouns.

Contrast with 戒 (jiè): While often used interchangeably, 戒 typically denotes an internal state of vigilance or the act of abstaining, whereas 誡 explicitly denotes the articulation—the spoken or written transmission—of that caution.

Comparison with related terms:

• 警 (jǐng): An alert to sudden or immediate danger.
• 誡 (jiè): A structured warning against known pitfalls or moral failure.
• 責 (zé): A reprimand focusing on a fault already committed.

Simplified variant: 诫