Chinese word

呼救

Pronunciation

Pinyinhū jiù

Meaning

  • verbcall for help

Example

他在街上大声呼救。tā zài jiē shàng dà shēng hū jiù

He loudly called for help in the street.

Illustration for 呼救 (call for help)

More examples

登山者受伤后，用对讲机不断呼救，等待救援。dēng shān zhě shòu shāng hòu yòng duì jiǎng jī bú duàn hū jiù děng dài jiù yuán

After being injured, the climber repeatedly called for help over a walkie-talkie while waiting for rescue.

Core concept

An urgent outward appeal that connects a person in danger, or a witness, with people or services able to help.

Common phrases

  • 向警方呼救xiàng jǐng fāng hū jiù

    call the police for help

  • 向邻居呼救xiàng lín jū hū jiù

    call neighbors for help

Similar words

求救qiú jiù: Request assistance from other people in a dangerous or troubling situation.
喊救命hǎn jiù mìng: Loudly cry out for rescue using words like "help" or "save me".

Definition in Chinese

通过喊叫或发出求救信号请求他人或机构提供援助，常用于自身或他人遇险时的紧急求助。tōng guò hǎn jiào huò fā chū qiú jiù xìn hào qǐng qiú tā rén huò jī gòu tí gōng yuán zhù cháng yòng yú zì shēn huò tā rén yù xiǎn shí de jǐn jí qiú zhù

Word origin

The compound 呼救 (hūjiù, "call for help") joins 呼 (hū, "call out") with 救 (jiù, "rescue"), making the word transparent as both an appeal and its purpose.

Usage tips

  • The subject does not have to be the person in danger; a witness can perform the action for someone else who needs help.

Other meanings

  • cry for helpverb

Opposites

  • 施救shī jiùrescueverb

Related words

  • 呼救声hū jiù shēngcry for helpnoun
  • 呼救电话hū jiù diàn huàdistress callnoun

Word lists with this word