警 means “warn, police”

けい · kei

Also: admonish, commandment

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

いましめる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ケイ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 6 · 19 strokes

The story

Words (言) under respect (敬): a warning spoken with authority. 警察 are the police, 警告 is a formal warning, and a 警報 is an official alert, like the 津波警報 that sends coastal towns to high ground.

Used in 警察 (keisatsu, police), 警告 (keikoku, warning), and 警報 (keihou, alarm/alert)

More from Law & Order

• 守 protect
• 処 deal with
• 殺 kill
• 責 responsibility
• 捕 catch
• 危 dangerous
• 険 steep
• 罪 crime
• 犯 offense
• 逃 escape
• 盗 steal
• 制 control

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.