Keywords: 119 in China, Chinese fire department number, what is 119 in China, China emergency numbers, fire emergency China, yaoyaojiu, yiyijiu, 火警 (huǒjǐng), Chinese 911 for fire, fire safety day China
Summary: In mainland China, 119 (pronounced yāo yāo jiǔ) is the nationwide emergency telephone number for the fire department. Similar to dialing 911 for a fire in the United States, calling 119 connects you directly to the local fire and rescue services. Understanding this critical number, along with other Chinese emergency numbers like 110 (police) and 120 (ambulance), is essential practical knowledge for anyone living in or traveling to China.
Concise Definition: 119 is the national fire emergency telephone number in the People's Republic of China.
In a Nutshell: Think of 119 as the direct line to firefighters in China. While Americans have an all-in-one number (911), China uses a specialized system. If you see a fire, a dangerous chemical spill, or are in a situation requiring rescue (like being trapped in an elevator), 119 is the number to call. It is pronounced yāo yāo jiǔ to avoid confusion, a common practice for reading sequences of numbers in Chinese.
Character Breakdown
119 is not a traditional word composed of characters, but a number. The meaning comes from its function as an emergency code. The individual digits are:
一 (yī): The character for “one”. It's a single horizontal stroke (一), representing the concept of unity or the starting number.
一 (yī): The character for “one” again.
九 (jiǔ): The character for “nine”.
When read as a sequence of digits (like a phone number or room number), the number one, 一 (yī), is almost always pronounced as “yāo”. This is a crucial rule for learners to avoid miscommunication. It's done to prevent the sound yī from being confused with the similar-sounding qī (七, seven). Therefore, 119 is spoken aloud as “yāo yāo jiǔ”.
Cultural Context and Significance
Specialized Emergency System: The most significant difference from the Western “911” system is specialization. In China, different emergencies have different numbers. This reflects a system where responsibilities are clearly delineated.
119: Fire & Rescue (火警, huǒjǐng)
110: Police (报警, bàojǐng)
120: Ambulance / Medical Emergency (急救, jíjiù)
This is a critical distinction for a foreigner. Calling 119 for a theft would be incorrect and cause delays, just as calling the police for a fire would.
National Fire Safety Day (消防日): China has cleverly turned the number 119 into a day of awareness. November 9th (11/9) is now the annual “National Fire Safety Day” (全国消防日, Quánguó Xiāofáng Rì). On this day, public institutions, schools, and companies across the country hold fire drills, safety lectures, and public demonstrations to promote fire safety awareness. This direct link between the date and the emergency number powerfully reinforces its importance in the public consciousness.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Making an Emergency Call: This is the primary and most critical use. When you call 119, be prepared to state your exact location (地址, dìzhǐ) and the nature of the emergency (情况, qíngkuàng) as clearly and calmly as possible. Operators are trained to handle calls from distressed individuals, but providing a clear address is the most important first step.
Public Signage and Awareness: The number 119 is ubiquitous in the context of safety. You will see it printed on fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, public safety posters in subways, and on signs in hotels and residential buildings. It serves as a constant, silent reminder of fire safety protocol.
Educational Context: Chinese children learn about 119, 110, and 120 from a very young age in school as a fundamental part of their public safety education.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
着火了！快打119！
Pinyin: Zháohuǒ le! Kuài dǎ yāoyāojiǔ!
English: There's a fire! Quick, call 119!
Analysis: A direct, urgent command. “打 (dǎ)” literally means “to hit,” but in this context, it means “to dial” or “to call.”
English: If you smell smoke, you should immediately dial 119.
Analysis: “拨打 (bōdǎ)” is a slightly more formal verb for “to dial” than “打 (dǎ)”. This sentence is typical of instructional or safety advice.
Example 3:
他告诉接线员，准确的地址是成功救援的关键。
Pinyin: Tā gàosù jiēxiànyuán, zhǔnquè de dìzhǐ shì chénggōng jiùyuán de guānjiàn.
English: He told the 119 operator that an accurate address is the key to a successful rescue.
Analysis: This sentence doesn't explicitly say “119” but “接线员 (jiēxiànyuán)” (operator) in the context of a fire implies it. This shows how the concept is used in a narrative.
Example 4:
中国的火警电话是119，不是911。
Pinyin: Zhōngguó de huǒjǐng diànhuà shì yāoyāojiǔ, búshì jiǔyāoyāo.
English: China's fire emergency number is 119, not 911.
Analysis: A perfect sentence for clarifying a common point of confusion for foreigners. “火警电话 (huǒjǐng diànhuà)” is the technical term for “fire alarm phone number.”
English: When you call 119, you must clearly say where you are.
Analysis: This emphasizes the most crucial piece of information in an emergency call, providing practical advice. “说清楚 (shuō qīngchu)” means “to speak clearly” or “to explain clearly.”
English: Besides fires, if you are trapped in an elevator you can also call 119 for help.
Analysis: This sentence expands the user's understanding of 119's function, showing it covers general rescue (求助, qiúzhù) as well.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Pronouncing it “yī yī jiǔ”
While technically understandable, the standard and correct pronunciation for number sequences in China is to say “yāo” for “one.” Saying “yī yī jiǔ” immediately marks you as a foreigner or a beginner and runs a slight risk of being misheard as “qī yī jiǔ” (719) in a noisy, stressful situation. Always use yāo yāo jiǔ.
Mistake 2: Treating 119 like 911
This is the most dangerous mistake. 119 is for fire and rescue ONLY. Do not call it for a medical emergency or a crime.
Incorrect:“有人偷了我的钱包！快打119！” (“Someone stole my wallet! Quick, call 119!”)
Why it's wrong: This is a police matter. You are calling the wrong department, wasting precious time for yourself and for the fire department.
Correct: Call 110 (yāoyāolíng) for crimes. Call 120 (yī'èrlíng) for a medical ambulance.
Mistake 3: Assuming it's universal in all Chinese-speaking regions.
While 119 is standard in Mainland China, other regions have different systems.
Taiwan: 119 is used for both fire and ambulance services. 110 is for police.
Hong Kong & Macau: Use the British system, with 999 as the all-in-one emergency number for police, fire, and ambulance.
Related Terms and Concepts
* 110 (yāoyāolíng) - The emergency number for the police (报警, bàojǐng).
* 120 (yī'èrlíng) - The emergency number for medical services/ambulance (急救, jíjiù).
* 火警 (huǒjǐng) - Literally “fire alarm.” The official term for a fire emergency call. 火警电话 (huǒjǐng diànhuà) is “fire emergency phone number.”