How to say ambulance in Japanese and what to say in trouble
How to say ambulance in Japanese: 救急車 (kyūkyūsha), and you call it at number 119 — the same number as for firefighters. Police is 110. Key phrases: 助けて (tasukete) “help”, 救急車を呼んでください (kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai) “please call an ambulance”, 病院はどこですか “where is the hospital”.
In Japan there are two emergency numbers, and it's easy to confuse them: 119 — ambulance and firefighters, 110 — police. The 119 operator speaks Japanese, but in large cities there is English support; the main thing is to immediately say 救急車 or 火事 (fire) to select the right service.
What to say in an emergency
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 助けて | tasukete · tasukete | Help! |
| 救急車 | kyūkyūsha · kyūkyūsha | Ambulance |
| 救急車を呼んでください | kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai · kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai | Please call an ambulance |
| 病院 | byōin · byōin | Hospital |
| 警察 | keisatsu · keisatsu | Police |
| 火事 | kaji · kaji | Fire |
| 痛いです | itai desu · itai desu | It hurts |
| 気分が悪いです | kibun ga warui desu · kibun ga warui desu | I feel sick |
Numbers worth remembering
- 119 — ambulance and firefighters. First say 救急車 (ambulance) or 火事 (fire).
- 110 — police. Theft, accident, threat — call here.
- 118 — coast guard: incidents on water.
- Calling an ambulance in Japan is free; you pay for treatment at the hospital.
- The operator will ask for your address — name the metro station or a visible landmark if you don't know the exact address.
Phrases at the hospital and pharmacy
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 保険証 | hokenshō · hokenshō | Insurance card |
| 薬局 | yakkyoku · yakkyoku | Pharmacy |
| 熱があります | netsu ga arimasu · netsu ga arimasu | I have a fever |
| アレルギーがあります | arerugī ga arimasu · arerugī ga arimasu | I have an allergy |
| 英語が話せる人はいますか | eigo ga hanaseru hito wa imasu ka · eigo ga hanaseru hito wa imasu ka | Is there anyone who speaks English? |
| お大事に | o-daiji ni · o-daiji ni | Get well soon (they will say this to you as you leave) |
Practice the main phrase
“Tasukete” — four even syllables, say it loudly and clearly.
FAQ
- How do you say “ambulance” in Japanese?
- 救急車 (kyūkyūsha). Call 119, which is also the fire number. At the start of the call, say 救急車 to send medics rather than firefighters.
- What is the emergency number in Japan?
- 119 — ambulance and firefighters, 110 — police, 118 — coast guard. Calling an ambulance is free.
- How do you shout “help” in Japanese?
- 助けて (tasukete). More formally — 助けてください. If you need the police, shout 警察を呼んで (keisatsu o yonde).
- What to do if I don't know Japanese?
- Say 英語が話せる人はいますか — “is there anyone who speaks English?”. In large cities, the 119 service has English support, and hospitals have interpretation services.
Updated: 2026-07-25