Translation guide
The state of being watchful and alert to danger or difficulties. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through nouns, verbs, and set phrases that emphasize careful observation, preparedness, and caution.
Expressing the idea of staying alert and watchful to prevent problems or detect threats.
The most common and general term for vigilance, alertness, or being on guard against potential danger. Used in contexts like security, disaster prevention, and everyday caution.
The police increased their vigilance.
Vigilance is necessary in preparation for the typhoon.
Carefulness or precaution, often used in daily life to mean being on one's guard against mishaps, theft, or personal safety. Slightly more personal and less formal than 警戒.
Please be vigilant on the road at night.
Be careful with fire. (A common phrase for fire prevention)
Attention, caution, or alertness. Often used in warnings or instructions to be vigilant about specific things. Can be less intense than 警戒.
Please watch your step. (Be vigilant about your footing)
Don't let your vigilance slip.
To pay attention to, to be vigilant about, to keep an eye on things. Implies distributing one's attention carefully.
Please be vigilant of your surroundings.
Emphasizing continuous alertness, often in monitoring or guarding situations.
Surveillance, monitoring, or watch. Implies a systematic and often prolonged observation, like security cameras or border patrol.
Surveillance cameras are operating 24 hours a day.
The suspect is under police surveillance.
Watch, lookout, or guard duty. Often refers to a person assigned to keep watch, like a sentry or a lookout.
To keep a sharp watch, to be vigilant. Literally 'to make one's eyes shine', it implies a keen, watchful attitude.
Focusing on the cognitive aspect of being ready to respond to unexpected events.
Negligence or unpreparedness. Often used in negative commands or warnings to mean 'don't let your guard down' or 'be vigilant'. The positive form is less common; the concept is usually expressed as avoiding 油断.
Don't lose focus, stay sharp. A casual but strong way to tell someone to remain vigilant.
Stay vigilant until the very end.
To have a sense of vigilance or wariness. 警戒心 is the psychological state of being on guard.
Expressing vigilance in formal, written, or literary contexts.
警戒 (keikai) is the strongest, implying active guarding against a threat. 用心 (yōjin) is personal caution, often used in daily life. 注意 (chūi) is general attention or caution, and can be used in warnings. For 'vigilance' in the sense of security or disaster preparedness, 警戒 is the best fit.
While 警戒 is a noun, Japanese often expresses the concept of vigilance through verbs and phrases like 警戒する, 気を配る, or negative commands like 油断するな. Using the noun alone can sound stiff or incomplete.
Constant vigilance is required.
The guard maintained his vigilance throughout the night.
We must not let our vigilance slip.
To post a lookout.
He kept vigil all night.
The police are keeping a sharp eye out for illegal activities.
It's important to always maintain vigilance.
One must not neglect vigilance.