警けい鐘しょうを鳴ならす

expression, godan verb (-su)

ring an alarm bell

Literal meaning: physically sounding a bell as a warning signal.

• 火か災さいを知しらせるために警けい鐘しょうを鳴ならした。

  They rang the alarm bell to alert people to the fire.

expression, godan verb (-su)

sound a warning; raise the alarm; send a wake-up call

Figurative use: to issue a strong warning about a danger or problem, often in public discourse.

• 専せん門もん家かは気き候こう変へん動どうの危き険けん性せいについて警けい鐘しょうを鳴ならしている。

  Experts are sounding the alarm about the dangers of climate change.

• この事じ件けんは、社しゃ会かいのひずみに警けい鐘しょうを鳴ならすものだ。

  This incident serves as a wake-up call about the distortions in society.