China Emergency Numbers: 110, 120, 119 — What to Say as a Foreigner (2026)

The three numbers you must know:

• 110 - Police (警察)
• 120 - Ambulance (救护车)
• 119 - Fire (火警)

These work from any phone, including locked phones and phones without SIM cards.

But here's the problem: operators typically speak only Chinese. This guide teaches you exactly what to say.

The Three Emergency Numbers

110 - Police (警察 jǐng chá)

Use for:

• Theft or robbery
• Assault
• Lost passport
• Traffic accidents
• Any crime

Response time: 5-15 minutes in cities

120 - Ambulance (救护车 jiù hù chē)

Use for:

• Medical emergencies
• Injuries
• Heart attack / stroke symptoms
• Allergic reactions
• Any health emergency

Response time: 10-20 minutes in cities

Cost: ¥100-300 for ambulance + hospital costs

119 - Fire (火警 huǒ jǐng)

Use for:

• Fire
• Smoke
• Gas leak
• Rescue situations (trapped people)

Response time: 5-10 minutes

What to Say: Essential Phrases

Most Important Phrase: Your Location

The operator's first question is always "在哪里？" (zài nǎ lǐ?) - Where are you?

Prepare this in advance:

"我在 [hotel name / address]" (wǒ zài...) - I am at...

Example:

• 我在北京饭店 (wǒ zài Běijīng Fàndiàn) - I'm at Beijing Hotel
• 我在王府井大街 (wǒ zài Wángfǔjǐng Dàjiē) - I'm on Wangfujing Street

For Police (110)

Situation	Chinese	Pinyin	Pronunciation
Help!	救命！	jiù mìng!	jyo-ming
I've been robbed	我被抢了	wǒ bèi qiǎng le	wor bay chyang luh
My passport is lost	我的护照丢了	wǒ de hùzhào diū le	wor duh hoo-jao dyo luh
There's been an accident	出事故了	chū shìgù le	choo shir-goo luh
I need police	我需要警察	wǒ xūyào jǐngchá	wor shoo-yao jing-cha

For Ambulance (120)

Situation	Chinese	Pinyin	Pronunciation
Medical emergency	急救！	jí jiù!	jee-jyo
Someone collapsed	有人晕倒了	yǒu rén yūndǎo le	yo ren yoon-dao luh
Chest pain	胸口疼	xiōngkǒu téng	shyong-ko tung
Can't breathe	呼吸困难	hūxī kùnnán	hoo-shee koon-nan
Bleeding badly	流血很多	liúxuè hěn duō	lyo-shweh hun dwor
Allergic reaction	过敏反应	guòmǐn fǎnyìng	gwor-min fan-ying
Heart attack	心脏病发作	xīnzàng bìng fāzuò	shin-zang bing fa-zwor

For Fire (119)

Situation	Chinese	Pinyin	Pronunciation
Fire!	着火了！	zháo huǒ le!	jao hwor luh
Smoke	有烟	yǒu yān	yo yan
Gas leak	煤气泄漏	méiqì xièlòu	may-chee shyeh-lo
People trapped	有人被困	yǒu rén bèi kùn	yo ren bay koon

The Emergency Call Script

When you call, follow this pattern:

Step 1: State the emergency type

• 救命！(Help!)
• OR describe what happened

Step 2: Give your location

• 我在 [location]
• Say hotel name, street name, or landmark

Step 3: Answer their questions

• They may ask for phone number, floor number, how many people, etc.

Step 4: Stay on the line

• Don't hang up until they say you can

Sample 120 (Ambulance) Call

You: 救命！有人晕倒了！ (jiù mìng! yǒu rén yūndǎo le!) "Help! Someone collapsed!"

Operator: 在哪里？ (zài nǎ lǐ?) "Where are you?"

You: 我在希尔顿酒店，1205房间 (wǒ zài xī'ěrdùn jiǔdiàn, yāo èr líng wǔ fángjiān) "I'm at Hilton Hotel, room 1205"

Operator: 什么情况？ (shénme qíngkuàng?) "What's the situation?"

You: 他/她呼吸困难 (tā hūxī kùnnán) "He/She has difficulty breathing"

Pro Tips: Prepare Before You Need It

1. Screenshot Your Hotel Address in Chinese

Every hotel has a card with Chinese address. Take a photo. This is what you'll read to operators.

2. Know Your Floor Number

Floor	Chinese	Pinyin
1st floor	一楼	yī lóu
2nd floor	二楼	èr lóu
3rd floor	三楼	sān lóu
5th floor	五楼	wǔ lóu
10th floor	十楼	shí lóu
12th floor	十二楼	shí èr lóu

3. Have Translation App Ready

Open Google Translate or Baidu Translate. You can:

• Type English → Show Chinese text
• Use voice translation (speak English, it speaks Chinese)

4. Ask Hotel Staff to Call

If at hotel and not life-threatening, ask front desk to call for you:

• "请帮我打120" (qǐng bāng wǒ dǎ yāo èr líng) - Please help me call 120

5. Know the Nearest Hospital

Search in Baidu Maps: 三甲医院 (sān jiǎ yīyuàn) - Class A hospital (best quality)

English-Speaking Emergency Options

In Major Cities

Beijing:

• International SOS: 010-6462-9112
• Beijing United Family Hospital: 010-5927-7000

Shanghai:

• International SOS: 021-5298-9538
• Shanghai United Family Hospital: 021-2216-3900

Guangzhou:

• International SOS: 020-8386-9911
• Guangzhou United Family Hospital: 020-3113-2088

Your Embassy

For serious emergencies (arrest, major accident, death), contact your embassy:

• US Embassy Beijing: 010-8531-4000
• UK Embassy Beijing: 010-5192-4000
• Australian Embassy: 010-5140-4111

Other Useful Numbers

Service	Number
Directory assistance	114
Traffic accident	122
Weather	12121
Consumer complaint	12315
Tourism complaint	12301
Immigration (NIA) service line	12367

What Happens When You Call

Police (110):

• Operator takes information
• Dispatches nearest patrol
• Police arrive, may need translation app
• For tourist areas, some officers speak basic English

Ambulance (120):

• Operator dispatches ambulance
• Paramedics arrive, assess situation
• Transport to nearest hospital (not your choice)
• You pay ambulance fee + hospital costs

Fire (119):

• Immediate dispatch
• Fire trucks arrive with full team
• No charge for service

Emergency Card Template

Save this on your phone or print it:

EMERGENCY INFORMATION 紧急信息

My name: ____________________
I am from: __________________
Passport #: _________________
Blood type: _________________
Allergies: __________________

Hotel: _____________________
Chinese address: ____________
Room #: ____________________

Emergency contact: __________
Phone: _____________________

I need help: 我需要帮助 (wǒ xūyào bāngzhù)
I don't speak Chinese: 我不会说中文 (wǒ bù huì shuō zhōngwén)

Summary

Number	Service	First Thing to Say
110	Police	救命！我在 [location]
120	Ambulance	急救！我在 [location]
119	Fire	着火了！我在 [location]

Key survival phrases:

• 救命 (jiù mìng) - Help!
• 我在... (wǒ zài...) - I am at...
• 请帮我 (qǐng bāng wǒ) - Please help me

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The China Survival Kit includes printable emergency cards with all these phrases, plus offline translation tools when internet fails.