The Chinese word "告诫" is a compound verb formed by combining two semantically related characters: "告" (gào), meaning "to tell" or "to inform," and "诫" (jiè), meaning "to warn" or "to admonish." Together, they create a synergistic meaning where "告" provides the action of conveying a message, and "诫" specifies the nature of that message as a caution or stern advice. The resulting term, "告诫," thus means to earnestly warn or admonish someone, often implying a formal, serious, or authoritative tone, as when a parent, teacher, or elder gives stern guidance to prevent undesirable actions.