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警報器 (けいほうき, keihouki) Japanese meaning: alarm | Kotomora

警けい報ほう器き

け

い

ほ

う

き

Meanings

1

alarm; alarm device; sensor

A device that detects danger, intrusion, fire, train crossings, etc. and gives a warning sound or signal. 警報器 emphasizes a device/detector, while 警報機 is also used for larger alarm mechanisms.

火か災さい警けい報ほう器きが突とつ然ぜん鳴

な

っ

た

。

The fire alarm suddenly went off.

玄げん関かんに防ぼう犯はん用ようの警けい報ほう器きを取とり付つけた。

We installed a security alarm at the entrance.

踏ふみ切きりの警けい報ほう機きが鳴なり始はじめた。

The railroad crossing alarm began to sound.

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉に警けい報ほう器きを取とり付つけるto install an alarm device in a place
台だい所どころに火か災さい警けい報ほう器きを取とり付つけた。
I installed a fire alarm in the kitchen.
警けい報ほう器きが鳴なるfor an alarm device to go off
夜よ中なかに突とつ然ぜん、警けい報ほう器きが鳴なった。
The alarm suddenly went off in the middle of the night.

Kanji

警admonish, commandment
報report, news, reward
器utensil, vessel, receptacle
機loom, mechanism, machine

Related words

センサー
センサー is a general term for any detecting device, whereas 警報器 specifically issues a warning signal when danger is detected.

Don't confuse with

警けい報ほうN2
警報 refers to the warning or alarm itself, while 警報器 is the physical device that produces or detects it.

Counted with

台だいN4
stand; base; platform; table; rack · setting (of a gem); mounting · stock (in grafting) · counter for machines and vehicles · level; mark; range; decade (of one's life) · tall building (with a fine view); observation platform · plateau; heights

Word family

煙えん警けい報ほう器き
smoke alarm
火か災さい警けい報ほう器き
fire alarm; fire sensor
ガス漏もれ警けい報ほう器き
gas leak sensor; gas leak alarm

Built from

警けい報ほう+器き

Written forms

警けい報ほう器き
Common spelling for an alarm device or detector, especially in compounds such as 火災警報器.
警けい報ほう機き
Also common; often used for alarm machinery or warning devices such as those at railroad crossings.

Etymology

A compound of 警報, meaning 'alarm' or 'warning,' and 器 or 機, both used for devices or machinery. The spelling with 器 highlights an instrument/device, while 機 can suggest a machine or mechanism.