Japanese Emergency Phrases: What to Say When You Need Help

Emergency phrases in Japanese help you ask for assistance, communicate your location, and understand a few essential questions when time is limited. Learn the direct expressions below, practise saying your address slowly, and remember the two emergency numbers: 119 for fire and ambulance services, and 110 for police.

These phrases are practical language learning, not a substitute for local emergency instructions or professional medical advice. In a real emergency, contact the appropriate service and follow directions from officials. Japanese script, a pronunciation guide, and an English meaning are provided for each expression.

Start with the essential emergency numbers and requests

Japan’s emergency number 119 connects to the fire department, which handles fire response and dispatches ambulances. Call 110 for police. If you cannot explain the situation fully in Japanese, begin with the number and a short, clear request. You can also ask a nearby member of staff to help communicate your location.

• 助けてください。 (たすけてください, Tasukete kudasai) — Please help me.
• 救急車を呼んでください。 (きゅうきゅうしゃをよんでください, Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai) — Please call an ambulance.
• 警察を呼んでください。 (けいさつをよんでください, Keisatsu o yonde kudasai) — Please call the police.
• 火事です。 (かじです, Kaji desu) — There is a fire!

Kudasai makes these requests polite and direct. In an urgent situation, however, do not worry about producing a perfect sentence. Say the key noun—kyūkyūsha (ambulance), keisatsu (police), or kaji (fire)—and seek help.

How do you ask where to go during a disaster?

If you need to confirm whether you are safe or locate an evacuation site, these questions are useful. 避難所 (hinanjo) means “evacuation shelter” or “evacuation center.” Listen for this word in announcements and directions.

• ここは安全ですか。 (ここはあんぜんですか, Koko wa anzen desu ka) — Is it safe here?
• 避難所はどこですか。 (ひなんじょはどこですか, Hinanjo wa doko desu ka) — Where is the evacuation shelter?
• どこに行けばいいですか。 (どこにいけばいいですか, Doko ni ikeba ii desu ka) — Where should I go?
• どうしたら避難所に行けますか。 (どうしたらひなんじょにいけますか, Dō shitara hinanjo ni ikemasu ka) — How can I get to the evacuation shelter?

Notice the particle ni in hinanjo ni: it marks the destination, the place you are trying to reach. In doko ni, it similarly marks the destination as “where.” For a clearer review of destination and location particles, see this guide to Japanese particles, including ni and de.

You may also hear 地震 (jishin, earthquake) in warnings. The phrase 地震です (Jishin desu) means “There is an earthquake.” Do not treat a language example as a prediction: follow official alerts and safety instructions rather than relying on a question such as “Will a big earthquake come?”

Describe an injury, illness, or location

When requesting medical help, a short description can help others understand what is happening. Pointing to the affected area can support your words, especially if you are nervous or do not know the precise body-part vocabulary.

• ここが痛いです。 (ここがいたいです, Koko ga itai desu) — It hurts here.
• 足首をけがしています。 (あしくびをけがしています, Ashikubi o kega shite imasu) — I have injured my ankle.
• 病院はどこですか。 (びょういんはどこですか, Byōin wa doko desu ka) — Where is the hospital?
• 友達がけがをしています。 (ともだちがけがをしています, Tomodachi ga kega o shite imasu) — My friend is injured.

In koko ga itai desu, koko means “here,” while itai means “painful” or “hurts.” You can replace koko with a body part if you know the word. When asking someone else to call an ambulance, 救急車を呼んでください is a complete request: o marks the ambulance as the object, and yonde kudasai means “please call.” This is a useful example of a verb’s te-form in a request. The broader Japanese verb guide explains how verb forms work.

Report theft or ask for English-language help

Use the appropriate wording to distinguish a stolen item from something you simply misplaced:

• 財布を盗まれました。 (さいふをぬすまれました, Saifu o nusumaremashita) — My wallet was stolen.
• スマホをなくしました。 (スマホをなくしました, Sumaho o nakushimashita) — I lost my phone.
• 英語が話せる人はいますか。 (えいごがはなせるひとはいますか, Eigo ga hanaseru hito wa imasu ka) — Is there anyone who can speak English?
• 日本語があまり話せません。 (にほんごがあまりはなせません, Nihongo ga amari hanasemasen) — I cannot speak much Japanese.

Nusumaremashita is a passive form of nusumu (“to steal”): the sentence presents the wallet as the thing stolen from you. By contrast, nakushimashita means “I lost [it]” and does not claim that someone took it. If you need to explain a situation in greater detail, you can build confidence through structured practical Japanese travel phrases and beginner Japanese lesson pathways.

A short 119 call: listen for the key questions

The example below illustrates a possible exchange. The operator’s exact wording and the details requested may vary; give your real location as clearly as you can. Practise recognizing the question words as well as memorizing your own lines.

オペレーター： 119番です。火事ですか、救急ですか。
Operētā: Hyaku-jūkyū-ban desu. Kaji desu ka, kyūkyū desu ka?
Operator: This is 119. Is it a fire or a medical emergency?

あなた： 救急です。住所は東京都渋谷区渋谷一丁目十二番十三号です。
Anata: Kyūkyū desu. Jūsho wa Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Shibuya itchōme jūni-ban jūsan-gō desu.
You: It is a medical emergency. The address is 1-12-13 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

オペレーター： けがですか、病気ですか。
Operētā: Kega desu ka, byōki desu ka?
Operator: Is it an injury or an illness?

あなた： 病気です。人が倒れています。
Anata: Byōki desu. Hito ga taorete imasu.
You: It is an illness. Someone has collapsed.

The address here is only a language example; replace it with your actual location. Jūsho means “address,” and oshiete kudasai means “please tell [me].” Numbers and address formats can be challenging to say aloud, so practise reading them carefully with a resource on Japanese numbers and their everyday use.

Practise the phrases as listening cues, not just vocabulary

In stressful conditions, you may hear a question before you can form a complete response. Train your ear to recognize high-value words: jūsho (address), byōin (hospital), kega (injury), byōki (illness), hinanjo (evacuation shelter), and doko (where). Reading a line aloud, then listening for these words in a spoken example, connects reading and listening practice.

A simple study routine is to learn three phrases at a time, cover the English, and recall the meaning from the Japanese. Then reverse the exercise: read the English and produce the Japanese. Short passages and guided exercises can strengthen this skill; try beginner Japanese reading practice with grammar notes or strategies for Japanese reading comprehension. If you are preparing for an exam as well, use a structured JLPT preparation plan to review vocabulary and sentence patterns systematically.

Remember the main points

Keep the essential distinctions clear: dial 119 for ambulance or fire response and 110 for police; say Tasukete kudasai to ask for help; use hinanjo for an evacuation shelter; and state your location slowly when asked. Learning these emergency phrases supports practical Japanese, but in an urgent situation prioritize official directions and getting help over perfect grammar.

Build your Japanese further with focused lessons, grammar guides, and reading and listening practice.

Explore Japanese Learning Resources

Based on reporting by Japanese Emergency Phrases You Really Need to Know.