戒める

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 戒める (いましめる) is a transitive verb for warning another person or oneself against wrongdoing.
• Basic usage: A father admonishes a child about promises; a speaker keeps cautioning themself not to forget failure.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Admonition directed outward and warning directed at oneself
  • The object of 戒めた is another person, while 自分を戒めている turns the warning inward. The latter is not a reprimand of someone else.