Most phrase lists save emergencies for the last page, in a small box you never reread. That is exactly backwards. The phrases you need in a crisis are the ones you will not have time to look up — and unlike ordering food or asking for directions, you may only get one attempt to say them clearly.
This guide covers the Chinese worth knowing when something goes wrong: calling for help, saying you are lost, getting medical care, and talking to the police. It is short on purpose. Every phrase here is one you can remember under pressure.
The Three Numbers to Save First
Before any phrase, save these in your phone. They work from any mobile in mainland China, with or without a SIM card.
- 110 — police (报警 bàojǐng)
- 120 — ambulance (急救车 jíjiùchē)
- 119 — fire (消防 xiāofáng)
Add them as contacts before you fly. If you cannot remember a phrase at all, dialing 110 and holding the phone out gets a dispatcher on the line — and many dispatchers in major cities can patch in English help or use translation apps.
Calling for Help
Two phrases carry almost all of the weight here. Know the difference between them.
- 救命！ (jiùmìng!) — “Help! / Save me!” Literally “save life.” This is the shout for real danger — an accident, an attack, someone in the water. Do not use it for anything casual. In China it carries the same weight as shouting “help” in English, and people will respond.
- 请帮帮我 (qǐng bāngbang wǒ) — “Please help me.” The everyday version. Use this when you need assistance but are not in danger — a bag you cannot reach, a phone that died, a child separated in a crowd.
- 能帮我吗？ (néng bāng wǒ ma?) — “Can you help me?” Softer, and a good opener before explaining what you need.
If someone does help you, the phrase you will want next is 谢谢你，太感谢了 (xièxie nǐ, tài gǎnxiè le) — “Thank you, thank you so much.”
Saying You Are Lost
Getting lost in China is common and usually low-stakes — wrong subway exit, unfamiliar hutong, a city you do not recognize. These phrases get you unstuck.
- 我迷路了 (wǒ mílù le) — “I am lost.” Clear, direct, and the phrase locals expect to hear.
- 这是哪里？ (zhè shì nǎlǐ?) — “Where is this?” Useful when you have your phone out and can show a map.
- 我找不到我的酒店 (wǒ zhǎo bù dào wǒ de jiǔdiàn) — “I cannot find my hotel.” The hotel staff and taxi drivers hear this constantly and will help.
- 我不会说中文 (wǒ bú huì shuō zhōngwén) — “I do not speak Chinese.” Honest, and it sets expectations. Most people will slow down, gesture, or find someone who can help.
- 你会说英语吗？ (nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?) — “Do you speak English?” In major cities this works more often than you would expect, especially with younger people.
One practical tip worth more than any phrase: keep your hotel address written in Chinese characters on your phone or on paper. Showing a taxi driver the address in characters solves the problem in one step. The English version of your hotel name often does not.
Medical Help
If you are sick or hurt, hotel front desk staff are your fastest route to care — they deal with this regularly and usually know the nearest hospital with an international or English-speaking department.
- 我需要看医生 (wǒ xūyào kàn yīshēng) — “I need to see a doctor.”
- 我生病了 (wǒ shēngbìng le) — “I am sick.”
- 我受伤了 (wǒ shòushāng le) — “I am injured.”
- 这里疼 (zhèlǐ téng) — “It hurts here.” Point at the spot. This works in any clinic, with or without a common language.
- 我对…过敏 (wǒ duì… guòmǐn) — “I am allergic to…” Swap in the allergen: huāshēng peanuts, niúnǎi milk, qīngméisù penicillin. Say this before any treatment.
- 药店在哪里？ (yàodiàn zài nǎlǐ?) — “Where is the pharmacy?” Chinese pharmacies (药店 yàodiàn) are common, and pharmacists will often help with minor issues directly.
- 要叫救护车 (yào jiào jiùhùchē) — “Call an ambulance.” Or simply dial 120.
Hospitals in China are busy, and the process works differently from what many travelers expect: you usually register at a desk, pay a small consult fee, see a doctor, then pay again at a separate window for tests or medicine. International departments in larger hospitals skip much of this and accept direct payment.
Police and Safety
For theft, harassment, a lost passport, or anything that needs official help, the police are reachable at 110 or at any nearby police station (派出所 pàichūsuǒ, marked with a blue sign and a star).
- 报警 (bàojǐng) — “Call the police.” You can say this to a hotel manager or a shopkeeper and they will make the call.
- 我的护照丢了 (wǒ de hùzhào diū le) — “I lost my passport.” You will need to report this before getting a replacement — keep a photo of your passport somewhere accessible.
- 我的手机被偷了 (wǒ de shǒujī bèi tōu le) — “My phone was stolen.”
- 有人跟踪我 (yǒu rén gēnzōng wǒ) — “Someone is following me.”
- 请帮我报警 (qǐng bāng wǒ bàojǐng) — “Please help me call the police.”
For non-emergency police matters, going in person to a pàichūsuǒ with your passport and a written note about what happened is often faster than trying to explain over the phone.
Natural Disasters and Evacuations
China has earthquake, typhoon, and flood warnings broadcast through mobile alerts, hotel PA systems, and local radio. If an alert comes through, a few words help you follow instructions.
- 地震了 (dìzhèn le) — “Earthquake.”
- 快跑 (kuài pǎo) — “Run.”
- 往这边走 (wǎng zhèbiān zǒu) — “Go this way.” Follow what locals and staff are doing — they know the routes.
- 出口在哪里？ (chūkǒu zài nǎlǐ?) — “Where is the exit?”
- 别害怕 (bié hàipà) — “Do not be afraid.” Useful if you are with children or someone panicking.
The Phrase That Fixes Most Situations
If you only remember one thing from this guide, make it 请问，请慢一点说 (qǐng wèn, qǐng màn yīdiǎn shuō) — “Excuse me, please speak more slowly.” It works in every situation on this page. Most misunderstandings in a stressful moment are not about vocabulary; they are about speed. Asking someone to slow down buys you the extra seconds you need to catch up.
The other half of that is 我听不懂 (wǒ tīng bù dǒng) — “I do not understand.” Saying it early and honestly is always better than nodding along and missing what matters.
What to Do Before You Travel
Three minutes of preparation beats a page of phrases you will not remember in the moment.
Save 110, 120, and 119 as phone contacts. Do this before you fly. They work from any mobile, even with no SIM.
Keep your hotel address in Chinese characters on your phone. A screenshot is enough. This single habit solves more travel problems in China than any phrase on this list.
Screenshot the phrases above. You will not recall them under pressure if you have only read them once. A photo on your phone works when the internet does not.
Tell someone where you are going. A quick message to family or a friend before a day trip, a hike, or an overnight train is free insurance.
None of this is about speaking Chinese well. It is about having a few words ready when you need them most — and knowing that in China, strangers will help if you can only say what is wrong. For the everyday phrases that pair with this guide, see How to Greet Someone in Chinese and How to Say Sorry in Chinese. And if you want to double-check a Chinese name or phrase before relying on it, the free tools at ChineseToolkit are worth a look.
