戒め
Meanings
A warning or admonition that makes someone reflect or avoid repeating a mistake; often used in phrases such as 戒めとする and 戒めを胸に刻む.
We will take this failure as a lesson and make sure to check thoroughly.
I still keep my grandfather's admonition in my heart.
prohibition; commandment; precept
Refers to a rule forbidding something, or a moral or religious precept. The spelling 禁め is noted for this sense but is rare.
That religion has strict precepts.
He follows the precept, 'You must not deceive others.'
A less common noun use where 戒め means punishment or chastisement intended to correct conduct, not just a verbal warning.
In the past, severe penalties were sometimes imposed as punishment.
Archaic use meaning caution, guarding, or keeping watch; in modern Japanese, 警戒 or 見張り would normally be used instead.
In old writing, いましめ can mean caution or keeping watch.
Usage patterns
- 〈事〉を戒めとするto take something as a lesson/warning
Let's take this failure as a lesson and proceed more carefully next time.
- 戒めを胸に刻むto engrave a lesson/warning in one's heart
He engraved those words in his heart as a lesson.
- 〈人〉に戒めを与えるto give someone an admonition/warning
The teacher gave the students a warning.
- 戒めを守るto keep a precept/commandment
The monks live by strictly keeping their precepts.
- 戒めを受けるto receive punishment/chastisement
The employee who committed fraud received severe punishment.
Expressions
- 前車の覆るは後車の戒めlearn from others' mistakes; the toppling of the cart in front serves as a warning for the cart behind