At a Glance
| Word | Reading | Level | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 警戒 | keikai | Personal vigilance | caution / being on alert |
| 注意報 | chuuihou | Level 1 — Advisory | be aware / weather advisory |
| 警報 | keihou | Level 2 — Warning | danger / take action |
| 特別警報 | tokubetsu keihou | Level 3 — Special Warning | life-threatening emergency |
A typhoon is approaching. Your phone buzzes with an alert. The screen shows: 大雨警報発令中. Do you need to evacuate? Understanding Japan’s alert vocabulary could quite literally be life-saving. This article explains the differences between 警戒（けいかい）, 注意報（ちゅういほう）, 警報（けいほう）, and 特別警報（とくべつけいほう）.
Yuka大雨警報が出てるよ！外出しないで。
Ooame keihou ga dete ru yo! Gaishutsu shinaide.
A heavy rain warning has been issued! Don’t go out.
Reiわかった。警戒しながら様子を見よう。
Wakatta. Keikai shinagara yousu wo miyou.
Got it. Let’s stay alert and monitor the situation.
警戒 — Personal and Situational Alertness
警戒（けいかい） is not an official government alert level — it is a word describing a state of alertness or vigilance. It can be used by anyone in any context to mean “being cautious,” “on guard,” or “watching out.”
A: 台風が近づいているので警戒が必要です。
A: Taifuu ga chikazuite iru node keikai ga hitsuyou desu.
A: As the typhoon is approaching, caution is necessary.
B: 犯罪に対して警戒するよう呼びかけています。
B: Hanzai ni taishite keikai suru you yobikakete imasu.
B: People are being urged to be on guard against crime.
警戒 also appears in official typhoon level terminology: 警戒レベル (keikai reberu) is used by the Japanese government for disaster evacuation scales (Level 1 through 5).
注意報 vs 警報 — The Official Alert Scale
These two are official Japan Meteorological Agency (気象庁, kishouchou) warning categories. Understanding the difference matters when deciding whether to stay home, evacuate, or shelter in place.
| Alert | Level | Action | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 注意報 | Advisory (lower) | Be aware, prepare | 大雨注意報, 強風注意報 |
| 警報 | Warning (higher) | Take protective action | 大雨警報, 暴風警報 |
| 特別警報 | Special Warning (highest) | Immediate action, life at risk | 大雨特別警報, 津波特別警報 |
注意報（ちゅういほう） is issued when conditions are forecast to reach levels that require attention but are not immediately dangerous. Think of it as “heads up — be prepared.”
警報（けいほう） is issued when dangerous conditions are actually expected or occurring. Schools may close; outdoor activities should stop.
特別警報（とくべつけいほう） is the highest level, issued only for catastrophic events — once-in-decades rainfall, major tsunamis, or extreme storms. When this is issued, immediate evacuation may be necessary.
Real-World Alert Examples
Here are the alert types you are most likely to see in Japan, along with their readings.
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 大雨注意報 | ooame chuuihou | heavy rain advisory |
| 大雨警報 | ooame keihou | heavy rain warning |
| 暴風警報 | boufuu keihou | storm warning |
| 津波警報 | tsunami keihou | tsunami warning |
| 大雨特別警報 | ooame tokubetsu keihou | heavy rain special warning |
| 熱中症警戒アラート | necchuushou keikai araato | heat stroke alert |
| 避難指示 | hinan shiji | evacuation order |
Yuka特別警報が出たら、すぐに避難してください。
Tokubetsu keihou ga detara, sugu ni hinan shite kudasai.
If a special warning is issued, please evacuate immediately.
Rei注意報の段階で早めに準備しておくのが安全です。
Chuuihou no dankai de hayame ni junbi shite oku no ga anzen desu.
It’s safest to prepare early at the advisory stage.
Security and Crime Context
These words also appear outside weather — in security, crime prevention, and everyday alertness contexts.
A: 不審者に警戒してください。
A: Fushinsho ni keikai shite kudasai.
A: Please be on guard against suspicious individuals.
B: 火災警報が鳴った。
B: Kasai keihou ga natta.
B: The fire alarm went off.
Quick Quiz
1. Which is more serious — 注意報 or 警報?
Answer: 警報
2. What is the highest official weather alert level in Japan?
Answer: 特別警報（とくべつけいほう）
3. How do you say “tsunami warning” in Japanese?
Answer: 津波警報（つなみけいほう）
4. What does 警戒 mean in everyday speech?
Answer: Vigilance / being cautious / on alert
5. What is the Japanese term for an “evacuation order”?
Answer: 避難指示（ひなんしじ）
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