我的钱包丢了
wǒ de qiánbāo diū le
I lost my wallet
How to say "Help!" in Chinese
救命！
jiùmìng!
Help!
Character breakdown
救
to save
jiù
命
life
mìng
Grammar and structure
救命 (jiùmìng) is a fixed expression combining 救 (jiù, 'to save') and 命 (mìng, 'life'). It's an imperative verb phrase meaning 'save (my) life'.
Variations and politeness
救我！
jiù wǒ!
Save me! — More personal, addressing someone directly.
帮帮我！
bāng bāng wǒ!
Help me! — Less formal, colloquial alternative.
Mini dialogue
A
救命！
jiùmìng!
Help!
B
发生了什么事？
fāshēngle shénme shì?
What happened?
When to use it
Appropriate
- In life-threatening emergencies, such as accidents or physical danger.
- When you need immediate assistance to save your life.
- When shouting for help in a crisis situation.
Avoid when
- For minor requests or everyday problems, like needing directions or help with homework.
- In casual situations where a simple 'excuse me' or 'could you help me?' would be appropriate; using 救命 would sound overdramatic.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'help' in Chinese?
The most common way to shout for help in an emergency is 救命 (jiùmìng), which literally means 'save life'.
When do you use 救命 (jiùmìng)?
Use 救命 only in life-threatening situations, like when you are in danger or seriously injured. For everyday help, use 帮帮我 (bāng bāng wǒ) instead.
More phrases for this situation
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