誡

It is a compound ideograph, formed from:

戈 (“halberd, spear”);

廾 (“two hands”).

Here, 廾 represents the image of two hands, and together the character depicts “holding a spear with both hands to stand guard,” conveying the idea of vigilance, caution, and defense.

It appears in the Kangxi Dictionary on page 412.

In Korean usage, 계 (戒) is found in words expressing caution, discipline, and religious precepts:

경계 (警戒) – vigilance, alertness

주의 (注意, but with similar meaning)

계율 (戒律) – religious precepts, moral commandments (especially Buddhist)

훈계 (訓戒) – admonition, instruction

계명 (誡命) – commandment

Thus, 戒 embodies the idea of warning, restraint, and discipline, both in secular and in religious/moral contexts.

A notable variant form is 誡 (U+8AA1), which combines 言 (speech) with 戒 and is used in specific contexts such as 誡命 (“commandment”).