Day 28: Emergency Phrases — Learn Chinese in 30 Days
Learn the most critical Chinese emergency phrases — how to call for help, report theft, find a hospital, and handle any crisis situation in China.
Today's Vocabulary
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 救命 | Help! (life-threatening) | |
| 报警 | Call the police | |
| 救护车 | Ambulance | |
| 火警 | Fire alarm / Fire! | |
| 小偷 | Thief | |
| 丢了 | Lost / Gone missing | |
| 大使馆 | Embassy | |
| 迷路了 | Lost (in a place) | |
| 危险 | Dangerous | |
| 帮帮我 | Help me / Please help |
What You’ll Learn Today
No one expects emergencies — but being prepared with the right words can make an enormous difference. Today’s lesson covers the phrases that could genuinely help you or someone else in a crisis. Study these carefully.
Emergency Numbers in China
- 110 — Police (警察 jǐng chá)
- 120 — Ambulance (急救 jí jiù)
- 119 — Fire department (消防 xiāo fáng)
- 122 — Traffic accident
Critical Phrases
If you or someone needs immediate help:
救命！— Jiù mìng! — Help! (Use for life-threatening situations) 帮帮我！— Bāng bāng wǒ! — Please help me! 快叫救护车！— Kuài jiào jiù hù chē! — Quickly call an ambulance! 这里着火了！— Zhè lǐ zháo huǒ le! — There’s a fire here!
If you’ve been robbed:
我的包被偷了！— Wǒ de bāo bèi tōu le! — My bag was stolen! 我需要报警。— Wǒ xū yào bào jǐng. — I need to call the police. 我需要一份报案证明。— Wǒ xū yào yī fèn bào àn zhèng míng. — I need a police report. (for insurance claims)
If you’ve lost something important:
我的护照丢了。— Wǒ de hù zhào diū le. — I’ve lost my passport. 我需要去大使馆。— Wǒ xū yào qù dà shǐ guǎn. — I need to go to the embassy.
If you’re lost:
我迷路了，你能帮我吗？— Wǒ mí lù le, nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma? — I’m lost, can you help me?
Finding Your Embassy
Know your country’s embassy contact info before traveling to China. In a genuine emergency (lost passport, serious arrest), your embassy is your most important contact. Keep the number saved in your phone and written on paper.
Medical Emergency Script
If someone collapses or is unconscious, say:
有人晕倒了！请叫救护车！— Yǒu rén yūn dǎo le! Qǐng jiào jiù hù chē! — Someone has collapsed! Please call an ambulance!
我需要心肺复苏。— (Tell bystanders) — I need CPR. (In most cases, just point and say 救命 and people will help.)
Cultural Note
Chinese people are generally willing to help in an emergency — bystanders will call ambulances, help translate, or guide you to hospitals. The stereotype of bystander indifference (which made news in specific incidents) is not representative of typical behavior.
In any police situation as a foreigner, stay calm, be cooperative, and ask for an interpreter if language is a barrier. You have the right to contact your embassy.
Practice Exercise
What would you say if:
- You see someone collapse on the street.
- Your wallet was stolen in a market.
- You’ve lost your passport.
- You need to call the police.
Answers: 1) 有人晕倒了！快叫救护车！2) 我的钱包被偷了，我需要报警。3) 我的护照丢了，我需要去大使馆。4) 我需要报警 / (dial 110)