Emergency

41 phrases · Japanese with romanization, English and audio

  1. 助けてください

    ta-su-ke-te ku-da-sa-i

    Help me, please!

    Usage

    The most critical phrase to call for help in any emergency

    Grammar Note

    "Te-form + kudasai" is the basic request form. In a true emergency, "tasukete!" alone is sufficient

  2. 救急車を呼んでください

    kyū-kyū-sha o yon-de ku-da-sa-i

    Please call an ambulance

    Usage

    Requesting an ambulance in a medical emergency

    Grammar Note

    Japan's ambulance number is 119. For police, say "keisatsu o yonde kudasai" — police number is 110

  3. 火事です

    ka-ji de-su

    Fire! / There is a fire

    Usage

    Alarm cry when a fire is discovered to alert those nearby

    Grammar Note

    Fire emergency number in Japan is 119. Shouting "kaji da!" alone is also common. Say "kaji desu" first when calling 119

  4. 財布を盗まれました

    sa-i-fu o nu-su-ma-re-ma-shi-ta

    My wallet was stolen

    Usage

    Reporting theft to police or bystanders

    Grammar Note

    Passive "〜rareru" expresses receiving an action (often negative). Japanese often uses passive for harm suffered

  5. 病院に連れて行ってください

    byō-in ni tsu-re-te i-t-te ku-da-sa-i

    Please take me to the hospital

    Usage

    Requesting to be taken to a hospital when ill or injured

    Grammar Note

    "Tsurete iku" means to take a person along. Contrast with "motte iku" (take a thing). Works for other destinations too

  6. パスポートをなくしました

    pa-su-pō-to o na-ku-shi-ma-shi-ta

    I have lost my passport

    Usage

    Reporting a lost passport to police or an embassy

    Grammar Note

    "Nakusu" means to lose an object. File a "ishitsu todoke" (lost property report) at the nearest police station

  7. 具合が悪いです

    gu-a-i ga wa-ru-i de-su

    I am feeling unwell

    Usage

    Telling those around you or medical staff that you are feeling ill

    Grammar Note

    "Guai ga warui" is a general expression for feeling unwell. Be specific: "onaka ga itai" (stomachache) or "atama ga itai" (headache)

  8. 英語を話せる人はいますか

    e-i-go o ha-na-se-ru hi-to wa i-ma-su ka

    Is there someone who speaks English?

    Usage

    Urgently looking for an English speaker among staff or bystanders

    Grammar Note

    Use "imasu" for animate beings, "arimasu" for objects. Potential form: change verb stem "hanas-" + "eru" = "hanaseru"

  9. 緊急連絡先を教えてください

    kin-kyū ren-ra-ku-sa-ki o o-shi-e-te ku-da-sa-i

    Please give me the emergency contact information

    Usage

    Asking for the emergency contact or hotline information

    Grammar Note

    "Oshiete kudasai" = te-form + kudasai (please tell me). "Kinkyū renrakusaki" is a set compound noun worth memorizing

  10. ここはどこですか

    ko-ko wa do-ko de-su ka

    Where am I? / Where is this place?

    Usage

    Asking where you are when lost or after regaining consciousness

    Grammar Note

    Japanese has three location words: "koko" (here), "soko" (there, near you), "asoko" (over there, far)

  11. やめてください

    ya-me-te ku-da-sa-i

    Stop it

    Usage

    A firm refusal for aggressive touts, scams, or unwanted behaviour — can be shown without saying a word

  12. 触らないでください

    sa-wa-ra-na-i-de ku-da-sa-i

    Don't touch me

    Usage

    Rejects unwanted physical contact; showing it to bystanders also signals that you need help

  13. 盗まれました

    nu-su-ma-re-ma-shi-ta

    It was stolen

    Usage

    Reports a theft; point or show a photo to indicate what was taken

  14. 泥棒

    do-ro-bō

    Thief

    Usage

    The word for a person who steals; point at it when reporting a theft

  15. 強盗

    gō-tō

    Robbery

    Usage

    Taking property by threat or violence; the offence named in Article 236 of the Japanese Penal Code

  16. ひったくり

    hit-ta-ku-ri

    Snatching

    Usage

    Grabbing what someone is carrying and running off; use it if your bag or phone is snatched

  17. スリ

    su-ri

    Pickpocket

    Usage

    Stealing unnoticed from what a person is carrying, and the person who does it; written "掏摸" in kanji

  18. 誘拐

    yū-kai

    Kidnapping

    Usage

    Carrying a person off without lawful reason; the Penal Code calls the version using force "ryakushu"

  19. 殺人

    sa-tsu-jin

    Murder

    Usage

    Killing a person; the offence named in Article 199 of the Japanese Penal Code

  20. 暴動

    bō-dō

    Riot

    Usage

    A crowd causing an uproar and disturbing public order; the Penal Code calls the offence "sōran" in Article 106

  21. 爆弾

    ba-ku-dan

    Bomb

    Usage

    An object packed with explosives; point at it when reporting a suspicious object

  22. 火事です！逃げてください！

    ka-ji de-su! ni-ge-te ku-da-sa-i!

    Fire! Run!

    Usage

    Used to alert people to a fire and tell them to get out

    Grammar Note

    "Kaji desu" followed by a te-form + kudasai request ("nigete kudasai"). When shouting, the plain form "火事だ！逃げろ！" is used instead

  23. 泥棒です！捕まえてください！

    do-ro-bō de-su! tsu-ka-ma-e-te ku-da-sa-i!

    Thief! Catch him!

    Usage

    Shout it at the scene of a theft to ask bystanders to stop the thief

    Grammar Note

    "Dorobō desu" followed by a te-form + kudasai request ("tsukamaete kudasai"). The te-form of "tsukamaeru" (to catch) is "tsukamaete"

  24. 消防車を呼んでください

    shō-bō-sha o yon-de ku-da-sa-i

    Please call a fire engine

    Usage

    Used to ask someone to call the fire brigade

    Grammar Note

    Same "…車を呼んでください" frame as "救急車を呼んでください" (please call an ambulance), with "消防車" from the vehicles cards. Fire and ambulance in Japan: 119

  25. 警察署はどこですか？

    kei-sa-tsu-sho wa do-ko de-su ka?

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    Ask where the police station is, for example to file a report

    Grammar Note

    The same "…はどこですか？" frame as "多目的トイレはどこですか？" (where is the accessible toilet?). Uses "警察署" (the station building), not "警察" (the institution)

  26. 盗難証明書を作成してください

    tō-nan-shō-mei-sho o sa-ku-sei shi-te ku-da-sa-i

    Please make a theft report

    Usage

    Ask the police to issue a theft report, which insurers usually require

    Grammar Note

    The "…してください" request of "ゆっくり話してください" (please speak slowly). Travel insurers require this document for a claim

  27. 日本語を話せる人はいますか？

    ni-hon-go o ha-na-se-ru hi-to wa i-ma-su ka?

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Used to look for a Japanese speaker when you cannot make yourself understood

    Grammar Note

    Same "…語を話せる人はいますか" frame as "英語を話せる人はいますか" (is there anyone who speaks English?), with the language changed to Japanese

  28. この人は意識がありません

    ko-no hi-to wa i-shi-ki ga a-ri-ma-sen

    This person is unconscious

    Usage

    Tell paramedics or bystanders that a collapsed person is unresponsive

    Grammar Note

    "Ishiki ga arimasen" uses "arimasen", the polite negative of "aru" (to exist), meaning "there is no consciousness". This is the first thing to say when dialling 119

  29. 人が溺れています

    hi-to ga o-bo-re-te i-ma-su

    Someone is drowning

    Usage

    Raise the alarm that someone has fallen into the water

    Grammar Note

    "Oboreteimasu" is the te-form of "oboreru" (to drown) plus "imasu", a progressive form describing something happening right now

  30. 殴られました

    na-gu-ra-re-ma-shi-ta

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Report to police or medical staff that you were assaulted

    Grammar Note

    Same "…られました" passive past as "警察に止められました" (I was stopped by the police); the same victim construction as "財布を盗まれました"

  31. 刺されました

    sa-sa-re-ma-shi-ta

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    Tell paramedics or police that you were stabbed with a blade

    Grammar Note

    Same "…れました" passive past as "警察に止められました" and "財布を盗まれました". The same verb is used for insect and bee stings

  32. 空き巣に入られました

    a-ki-su ni ha-i-ra-re-ma-shi-ta

    My room was broken into

    Usage

    Report to police or hotel staff that your room was burgled while you were out

    Grammar Note

    Same "…られました" passive past as "警察に止められました". "空き巣" names both the crime of burgling an empty home and the burglar

  33. あの人が犯人です

    a-no hi-to ga han-nin de-su

    That person is the culprit

    Usage

    Point out the offender to the police

    Grammar Note

    Same "…人です" copula as "私は日本人です". The particle "が" (rather than "は") singles out which person is the culprit

  34. だまされました

    da-ma-sa-re-ma-shi-ta

    I was deceived

    Usage

    Report to police or bystanders that you have been swindled

    Grammar Note

    Same "…れました" passive past as "警察に止められました" and "財布を盗まれました"

  35. 置き忘れました

    o-ki-wa-su-re-ma-shi-ta

    I left it behind

    Usage

    Tell staff that you left your belongings at a shop or on a vehicle

    Grammar Note

    "Okiwasuremashita" is the polite past of the compound verb "okiwasureru", from "置く" (to put) and "忘れる" (to forget). It is an ordinary past, not a passive, and is distinct from losing something outright

  36. 車にはねられました

    ku-ru-ma ni ha-ne-ra-re-ma-shi-ta

    I was hit by a car

    Usage

    Tell police or paramedics that you were in a collision with a car

    Grammar Note

    "Haneraremashita" is the past passive of "haneru" (to hit/knock). "Kuruma ni" marks the car as the agent, making clear you were the one struck. "Butsukarimashita" would instead mean you ran into the car

  37. 非常口から逃げてください

    hi-jō-gu-chi ka-ra ni-ge-te ku-da-sa-i

    Please escape through the emergency exit

    Usage

    Direct people to leave through the emergency exit in a fire or similar

    Grammar Note

    Takes "非常口" from the existing sign card and adds the "te-form + kudasai" request of "パスポートを見せてください"

  38. 危ない！

    a-bu-na-i!

    Watch out!

    Usage

    The single word you shout to stop someone from walking into immediate danger; it is the plain form of the i-adjective, and the polite form is "危ないです"

  39. 急いでください

    i-so-i-de ku-da-sa-i

    Please hurry

    Usage

    Ask someone to hurry when time is critical

    Grammar Note

    Same "…でください" request as "救急車を呼んでください". The te-form of "急ぐ" is the euphonic "急いで"

  40. すぐ来てください

    su-gu ki-te ku-da-sa-i

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Ask someone on the phone or in person to come immediately

    Grammar Note

    Same "te-form + kudasai" request as "パスポートを見せてください". "来る" is irregular: its te-form is "来て" (kite)

  41. 交通事故が起きました

    kō-tsū ji-ko ga o-ki-ma-shi-ta

    There has been a traffic accident

    Usage

    Report a traffic accident to the police, the ambulance service or bystanders

    Grammar Note

    "…ga okimashita" is the frame for reporting that an accident, fire or similar event has occurred. "Okimashita" is the polite past of "okiru". "Kōtsū jiko" is a compound of "kōtsū" (traffic) and "jiko" (accident)

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