Emergency Chinese Phrases

Posted on by tiffany

Emergency · Mandarin Travel Phrases
MANDARIN TRAVEL PHRASES · SCENE 07 BOARDING PASS TO MANDARIN

Emergency

紧急状况jǐnjí zhuàngkuàng

Calling for help, seeing a doctor, reporting something lost or stolen, and contacting your embassy — the phrases you hope you never need, but should have ready.

SOS Doctor Lost/Theft Embassy
Region
Pinyin
Translation
01

Calling an Ambulance

Traveler
请qǐng帮bāng我wǒ叫jiào救护车jiùhùchē！
Please call an ambulance for me!
Operator
请问qǐngwèn你nǐ在哪里zài nǎlǐ？
Where are you?
Traveler
我wǒ在zài酒店jiǔdiàn大厅dàtīng。
I’m in the hotel lobby.
Operator
好hǎo，救护车jiùhùchē马上mǎshàng到dào。
Okay, the ambulance is on its way.
Must-Know 请qǐng帮bāng我wǒ叫jiào救护车jiùhùchēPlease call an ambulance for me — worth memorizing before you ever need it
02

Doctor & Pharmacy

Traveler
我wǒ不舒服bù shūfu。
I don’t feel well.
Pharmacist
有yǒu什么shénme症状zhèngzhuàng？
What are your symptoms?
Traveler
我wǒ头疼tóuténg，还有hái yǒu发烧fāshāo。
I have a headache, and a fever too.
Pharmacist
这个zhège药yào一天yì tiān吃chī三次sān cì。
Take this medicine three times a day.
Substitution Drill 我wǒ____疼téngSwap in head, stomach, tooth, throat — this pattern covers almost any pain
Read more: describing symptoms in Chinese →
03

Lost Items & Theft

Traveler
我的wǒ de护照hùzhào不见了bú jiàn le。
My passport is missing.
Traveler
我的wǒ de钱包qiánbāo被偷了bèi tōu le。
My wallet was stolen.
Police
请qǐng填写tiánxiě这张zhè zhāng表格biǎogé。
Please fill out this form.
Regional Wording 钱包qiánbāoSame meaning, “wallet” — Taiwan says 皮夾, mainland China says 钱包
04

Contacting the Embassy

Traveler
请问qǐngwèn美国Měiguó大使馆dàshǐguǎn怎么走zěnme zǒu？
How do I get to the US embassy?
Staff
我wǒ可以kěyǐ帮bāng你nǐ查chá电话号码diànhuà hàomǎ。
I can help you look up the phone number.
Traveler
谢谢xièxie你的nǐ de帮忙bāngmáng。
Thank you for your help.
💡

Culture Note

  • Emergency numbers differ by region: Taiwan uses 119 for fire/ambulance and 110 for police; mainland China uses 120 for ambulance, 119 for fire, and 110 for police. Worth saving both before you travel.
  • Pharmacies in both Taiwan and mainland China can often help with minor ailments without a doctor’s visit — pharmacists frequently give advice and recommend medication directly.
  • Registering with your embassy or saving its contact info before you travel is a good habit, especially for trips to more remote parts of mainland China where English-speaking staff may be limited.
  • Travel insurance is strongly recommended in both regions — costs for foreigners without local insurance can be high, and some hospitals in mainland China require payment upfront before treatment.

Emergency Phrase Card

Screenshot or print to keep on hand

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