救

jiù: 救 - To Save, To Rescue, To Help

Quick Summary

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  • Summary: Learn the crucial Chinese character 救 (jiù), which means “to save” or “to rescue.” This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in modern China. From emergency calls like 救命 (jiùmìng!) to understanding words like 救护车 (jiùhùchē) for “ambulance,” this entry provides clear examples and explains the critical difference between using 救 (jiù) for urgent situations and 帮 (bāng) for general help.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): jiù
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: To save or rescue someone or something from a situation of danger, harm, or difficulty.
  • In a Nutshell: 救 (jiù) is a word of high stakes and urgency. It's not about casual assistance; it's about intervention in a critical situation. Think of firefighters pulling someone from a burning building, a doctor saving a patient's life, or a lifeguard rescuing a swimmer. The feeling is one of immediate, necessary action to prevent a terrible outcome.

Character Breakdown

  • The character 救 (jiù) is a phono-semantic compound, meaning it's made of parts that give clues to both its sound and meaning.
  • 求 (qiú): On the left, this character means “to seek,” “to request,” or “to beg.” It provides a hint of the pronunciation and the semantic idea of someone being in need and seeking help.
  • 攵 (pū): On the right, this radical is a variant of 攴, which is often associated with action, tapping, or striking. It represents the active, physical intervention required to perform a rescue.
  • Together, they form a powerful image: taking action (攵) in response to a plea or desperate need (求).

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, the act of 救 (jiù) is deeply tied to concepts of heroism, social responsibility, and compassion. Stories of selfless individuals who risk their own safety to 救 (jiù) others are cornerstones of moral education. This aligns with a collectivist value system where the well-being of the group and its members is paramount.
  • Comparison to “Save” in English: This is a crucial point for learners. The English word “save” is incredibly broad. You can “save money,” “save a file,” “save time,” or “save a seat.” The Chinese word 救 (jiù) is highly specific to rescuing from danger. Using 救 (jiù) to mean “save money” (存钱 cún qián or 省钱 shěng qián) or “save a file” (保存 bǎocún) is a common but major mistake for beginners. 救 (jiù) implies a life, a person, or a critical situation is at stake.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Emergency Situations: This is the primary context for 救 (jiù). The most important phrase a learner can know for safety is 救命啊 (jiùmìng a)! - “Help me! / Save my life!” It is a universal distress call.
  • Compound Words for Services: Many essential services and concepts are built with 救 (jiù).
    • 救护车 (jiùhùchē): Ambulance (literally “rescue-protect vehicle”)
    • 救火 (jiùhuǒ): To fight a fire (literally “save from fire”)
    • 急救 (jíjiù): First aid (literally “urgent rescue”)
    • 救援 (jiùyuán): Rescue operation (a more formal term for organized rescue efforts)
  • Figurative Usage: While less common in daily conversation, 救 (jiù) can be used figuratively to mean “saving” a company from bankruptcy, a project from failure, or a relationship from collapse. In these cases, it's often part of a compound word like 挽救 (wǎnjiù).

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 救命啊！有人掉进水里了！
    • Pinyin: Jiùmìng a! Yǒu rén diào jìn shuǐ lǐ le!
    • English: Help! Someone fell into the water!
    • Analysis: This is the most classic and urgent use of 救. The particle 啊 (a) adds to the sense of urgency and alarm.
  • Example 2:
    • 快打120叫一辆救护车！
    • Pinyin: Kuài dǎ yāo'èrling jiào yī liàng jiùhùchē!
    • English: Quick, dial 120 and call an ambulance!
    • Analysis: Here, 救 is part of the compound word for “ambulance.” 120 is the emergency medical number in mainland China.
  • Example 3:
    • 消防员很快就赶来救火了。
    • Pinyin: Xiāofángyuán hěn kuài jiù gǎnlái jiùhuǒ le.
    • English: The firefighters arrived quickly to fight the fire.
    • Analysis: 救火 (jiùhuǒ) is a standard verb-object phrase meaning “to fight a fire.”
  • Example 4:
    • 医生尽了最大的努力，但还是没能救活他。
    • Pinyin: Yīshēng jìn le zuì dà de nǔlì, dànshì háishì méi néng jiù huó tā.
    • English: The doctor tried his best, but still couldn't save him.
    • Analysis: The combination 救活 (jiù huó) specifically means “to save someone's life” (literally “save until alive”).
  • Example 5:
    • 在这次地震中，很多志愿者参加了救援工作。
    • Pinyin: Zài zhè cì dìzhèn zhōng, hěn duō zhìyuànzhě cānjiā le jiùyuán gōngzuò.
    • English: In this earthquake, many volunteers participated in the rescue work.
    • Analysis: This uses the more formal term 救援 (jiùyuán), which refers to organized rescue efforts.
  • Example 6:
    • 谢谢你，你真是我的救星！
    • Pinyin: Xièxie nǐ, nǐ zhēn shì wǒ de jiùxīng!
    • English: Thank you, you're truly my savior!
    • Analysis: This is a common figurative expression. A 救星 (jiùxīng) is a “savior” or “saving grace” (literally “saving star”).
  • Example 7:
    • 那个小男孩从树上救下了一只小猫。
    • Pinyin: Nàge xiǎo nánhái cóng shù shàng jiù xià le yī zhī xiǎo māo.
    • English: That little boy rescued a kitten from the tree.
    • Analysis: Demonstrates that 救 can be used for animals in peril. The directional complement 下来 (xiàlai) shows the direction of the rescue (down).
  • Example 8:
    • 所有被困的矿工都得救了。
    • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu bèi kùn de kuànggōng dōu déjiù le.
    • English: All the trapped miners were saved.
    • Analysis: 得救 (déjiù) means “to be rescued.” It describes the state of having been saved.
  • Example 9:
    • 我们必须想个办法挽救公司的声誉。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū xiǎng ge bànfǎ wǎnjiù gōngsī de shēngyù.
    • English: We must think of a way to save the company's reputation.
    • Analysis: A good example of figurative use. 挽救 (wǎnjiù) is often used for rescuing abstract concepts like a reputation, a marriage, or a situation.
  • Example 10:
    • 快来救救我，我被锁在门外了！
    • Pinyin: Kuài lái jiùjiu wǒ, wǒ bèi suǒ zài mén wài le!
    • English: Quick, come help me, I'm locked out!
    • Analysis: The reduplication of the verb, 救救 (jiùjiu), softens the tone slightly and adds a sense of urgency, like a strong plea for help. While being locked out isn't life-threatening, this phrasing is used for dramatic or comedic effect to emphasize the speaker's desperation.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • `救 (jiù)` vs. `帮 (bāng)` - The Golden Rule: This is the most common pitfall for learners.
    • 救 (jiù): Use for life-or-death situations, serious danger, or emergencies. (Fire, drowning, medical emergency).
    • 帮 (bāng) / 帮助 (bāngzhù): Use for general help, assistance, or favors. (Carrying bags, helping with homework, giving directions).
    • Incorrect: `你能救我做作业吗？` (Nǐ néng jiù wǒ zuò zuo yè ma?) - This sounds absurd, as if your homework is about to kill you.
    • Correct: `你能帮我做作业吗？` (Nǐ néng bāng wǒ zuò zuo yè ma?) - “Can you help me with my homework?”
  • “Saving” Money, Time, or Files: As mentioned earlier, do not use 救 (jiù) for these concepts. It is a “false friend” to the English word “save” in these contexts.
    • To save money: 省钱 (shěng qián) or 存钱 (cún qián) (to deposit/save up)
    • To save time: 省时间 (shěng shíjiān)
    • To save a computer file: 保存 (bǎocún)

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 帮助 (bāngzhù) - The general term for “help” or “assistance.” Use this for non-emergency situations where you would use 救 (jiù).
  • 救援 (jiùyuán) - A more formal term for “rescue,” often referring to organized, large-scale relief efforts (e.g., after a natural disaster).
  • 挽救 (wǎnjiù) - To save or rescue something from the brink of failure, often used for abstract things like a reputation, a company, or a relationship.
  • 拯救 (zhěngjiù) - To save or redeem. This word carries a grander, more profound meaning, often used in religious contexts (to save a soul) or for saving humanity.
  • 急救 (jíjiù) - First aid; emergency medical treatment.
  • 救命 (jiùmìng) - “Save life!”; the most common and direct cry for help in a dangerous situation.
  • 救护车 (jiùhùchē) - Ambulance, the vehicle used for rescue.
  • 得救 (déjiù) - To be saved; the state of having been successfully rescued.
  • 救星 (jiùxīng) - “Savior” or “liberator,” literally a “saving star.” Used to describe a person who arrives just in time to solve a difficult problem.