Chinese phrases
How to say help in Chinese
Help in Chinese is 救命 (jiù mìng) when you are in danger. For everyday help, ask 能帮我一下吗 (néng bāng wǒ yí xià ma), “can you help me?”
救命
help!
救命 means “save (my) life.” Use it in a real emergency, or as a joke between friends.
Ways to say help
救命
Everydayhelp!
Shout it in an emergency: a fall, a fire, someone in the water.
帮帮我
Everydayplease help me
Urgent and personal: you are lost, hurt or stuck. Friends also use it to beg for a favour.
能帮我一下吗
Everydaycan you help me?
Small help from a stranger: a heavy suitcase, a door, a ticket machine.
麻烦你
Formalsorry to trouble you
A polite start to a request: 麻烦你帮我拍张照, “could you take a photo of me?”
In an emergency
The emergency numbers in China are 110 for the police, 120 for an ambulance and 119 for fire. In phone numbers, 1 is said yāo.
快报警
call the police!
The number is 110.
快叫救护车
call an ambulance!
The number is 120.
着火了
fire!
The number is 119.
抓小偷
stop, thief!
Shout it if someone takes your phone or your bag.
Common mistakes
Shouting 帮助
帮助 is the dictionary word for help, but nobody shouts it. In danger, shout 救命.
Using 救命 for small things
救命 for help with a bag sounds like an alarm, or a joke. Ask 能帮我一下吗 instead.
Reading 救命 online as an emergency
In posts and chats, 救命 often means “I can’t,” as in 救命，太好笑了, “help, this is too funny.” Check the context before you worry.
Texting a friend
救命！我被锁在门外了。
Qiqi: Help! I’m locked out.
你现在在哪里？
Liangliang: Where are you now?
在楼下。
Qiqi: Downstairs.
别急，我马上过来。
Liangliang: Don’t panic, I’m coming right now.
