ānquán chūkǒu: 安全出口 - Emergency Exit, Safety Exit

• Keywords: 安全出口, anquan chukou, Chinese for emergency exit, safety exit in China, fire exit sign Chinese, Chinese safety signs, anquan, chukou, learn Chinese vocabulary
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 安全出口 (ānquán chūkǒu), the essential Chinese term for “Emergency Exit.” This guide breaks down the characters 安 (safe), 全 (whole), 出 (out), and 口 (opening) to show how they combine to mean “Safety Exit.” Learn its critical role in modern Chinese public safety, see practical example sentences, and understand how to identify this vital sign in airports, subways, and buildings across China, ensuring you can navigate safely.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): ānquán chūkǒu
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A designated exit for use during an emergency, such as a fire or earthquake.
• In a Nutshell: 安全出口 (ānquán chūkǒu) is a highly literal and practical term. It combines the word for “safety” (安全) with the word for “exit” (出口). You will see this phrase on illuminated green signs in virtually every public building in China. It's not a metaphorical or poetic term; it means exactly what it says: a safe way out during a crisis. For any traveler or resident in China, this is one of the most important signs to be able to recognize instantly.

• 安 (ān): Safe, secure, peaceful. The character shows a woman (女) under a roof (宀), a classic symbol of peace and security at home.
• 全 (quán): Whole, entire, complete. Together, 安全 (ānquán) means “safety” or “security,” literally “safe and whole.”
• 出 (chū): To go out, to exit. The character is a pictogram of a foot stepping out of an enclosed space.
• 口 (kǒu): Mouth, opening, entrance/exit. This character is a simple drawing of an opening. Together, 出口 (chūkǒu) means “exit,” literally the “going-out opening.”

When combined, 安全出口 (ānquán chūkǒu) forms a clear and direct compound noun: “Safety” + “Exit.”

While “Emergency Exit” might not seem like a term rich with deep cultural meaning, its prevalence and standardization speak volumes about modern China. Following international events like the 2008 Beijing Olympics and with the rapid construction of modern infrastructure (high-speed rail, massive airports, sprawling malls), China has undergone a massive push for public safety standardization. The universal presence of clear, bilingual 安全出口 signs is a direct result of this. A subtle but interesting point of comparison is with the English “Emergency Exit.” The Chinese term 安全出口 emphasizes the *state* you are heading towards: safety. The English term emphasizes the *situation* you are leaving: an emergency. Both point to the same door, but the Chinese name frames it in a slightly more reassuring way—it's not just an exit *from* danger, but an exit *to* safety. This reflects a common linguistic pattern in Chinese that often focuses on the positive or desired outcome.

The use of 安全出口 is almost exclusively literal and official.

• Signage: This is its primary use. You will see it on green, often illuminated, signs in hotels, offices, subways, cinemas, airplanes, and any other public space. In major cities, these signs are almost always bilingual, with “SAFETY EXIT” or “EMERGENCY EXIT” written below the characters.
• Announcements: In safety briefings, such as on an airplane or before a movie, you will hear this term used in official instructions. For example, an air steward might say: “请注意您身边的安全出口位置” (qǐng zhùyì nín shēnbiān de ānquán chūkǒu wèizhì) - “Please note the location of the emergency exits near you.”
• Drills and Instructions: During fire or earthquake drills, instructions will direct people towards the nearest 安全出口.

It's important to note that this term is not used metaphorically in everyday conversation. You would not say you are looking for an 安全出口 from a bad relationship or a difficult job.

• Example 1:
  • 紧急情况下，请往安全出口方向疏散。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnjí qíngkuàng xià, qǐng wǎng ānquán chūkǒu fāngxiàng shūsàn.
  • English: In an emergency, please evacuate in the direction of the emergency exit.
  • Analysis: This is a formal instruction you might hear in a public announcement. `紧急情况 (jǐnjí qíngkuàng)` means “emergency situation.”
• Example 2:
  • 请问，最近的安全出口在哪里？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zuìjìn de ānquán chūkǒu zài nǎlǐ?
  • English: Excuse me, where is the nearest emergency exit?
  • Analysis: A crucial and practical question for anyone in an unfamiliar building. `最近的 (zuìjìn de)` means “the nearest.”
• Example 3:
  • 消防员检查了安全出口是否通畅。
  • Pinyin: Xiāofángyuán jiǎnchá le ānquán chūkǒu shìfǒu tōngchàng.
  • English: The firefighter checked whether the emergency exit was unobstructed.
  • Analysis: `消防员 (xiāofángyuán)` is “firefighter.” `通畅 (tōngchàng)` means “unobstructed” or “clear.”
• Example 4:
  • 电影院里，安全出口的标志总是亮着绿灯。
  • Pinyin: Diànyǐngyuàn lǐ, ānquán chūkǒu de biāozhì zǒngshì liàngzhe lǜdēng.
  • English: In the movie theater, the emergency exit signs are always lit with a green light.
  • Analysis: A simple descriptive sentence. `标志 (biāozhì)` is “sign” and `绿灯 (lǜdēng)` is “green light.”
• Example 5:
  • 法律规定，不能在安全出口堆放杂物。
  • Pinyin: Fǎlǜ guīdìng, bùnéng zài ānquán chūkǒu duīfàng záwù.
  • English: The law stipulates that you cannot pile up clutter at the emergency exit.
  • Analysis: `法律规定 (fǎlǜ guīdìng)` means “the law stipulates,” a common formal phrase. `杂物 (záwù)` means “sundries” or “clutter.”
• Example 6:
  • 地铁里的地图标明了所有安全出口的位置。
  • Pinyin: Dìtiě lǐ de dìtú biāomíng le suǒyǒu ānquán chūkǒu de wèizhì.
  • English: The map in the subway indicates the locations of all the emergency exits.
  • Analysis: `标明 (biāomíng)` means “to mark” or “indicate.”
• Example 7:
  • 发生火灾时，千万不要乘坐电梯，要走安全出口。
  • Pinyin: Fāshēng huǒzāi shí, qiānwàn bùyào chéngzuò diàntī, yào zǒu ānquán chūkǒu.
  • English: When a fire occurs, absolutely do not take the elevator; you must use the emergency exit.
  • Analysis: `千万不要 (qiānwàn bùyào)` is a strong way to say “must not” or “under no circumstances.” `电梯 (diàntī)` is “elevator.”
• Example 8:
  • 这个商场很大，一共有十个安全出口。
  • Pinyin: Zhège shāngchǎng hěn dà, yīgòng yǒu shí gè ānquán chūkǒu.
  • English: This mall is very big; it has a total of ten emergency exits.
  • Analysis: `商场 (shāngchǎng)` means “shopping mall.” `一共 (yīgòng)` means “in total.”
• Example 9:
  • 飞行前，空乘人员会演示如何找到安全出口。
  • Pinyin: Fēixíng qián, kōngchéng rényuán huì yǎnshì rúhé zhǎodào ānquán chūkǒu.
  • English: Before the flight, the cabin crew will demonstrate how to find the emergency exits.
  • Analysis: `空乘人员 (kōngchéng rényuán)` is the formal term for “flight attendant/cabin crew.”
• Example 10:
  • 保持安全出口畅通是每个人的责任。
  • Pinyin: Bǎochí ānquán chūkǒu chàngtōng shì měi ge rén de zérèn.
  • English: Keeping the emergency exits clear is everyone's responsibility.
  • Analysis: A sentence about public responsibility. `责任 (zérèn)` means “responsibility.”

• `安全出口 (ānquán chūkǒu)` vs. `出口 (chūkǒu)`: This is the most critical distinction.
  • `出口 (chūkǒu)` is a general “exit” from any place: a park, a museum, a subway station, a highway. It's the normal way out.
  • `安全出口 (ānquán chūkǒu)` is *only* for emergencies.
  • Incorrect Usage: If you are leaving a store and ask, “请问安全出口在哪里？” (Where is the emergency exit?), people might become alarmed, thinking there is a fire. The correct question is, “请问出口在哪里？” (Where is the exit?).
• Not a Metaphor: As mentioned earlier, English speakers might be tempted to use “safety exit” metaphorically (e.g., “This job was my safety exit from a bad company.”). This does not translate into Chinese. The term 安全出口 is overwhelmingly literal. For a metaphorical exit or “way out,” you would use other words like `退路 (tuìlù)` (a path of retreat) or `出路 (chūlù)` (a way out of a difficult situation).

• 出口 (chūkǒu) - Exit (general purpose). The most important term to contrast with.
• 入口 (rùkǒu) - Entrance. The direct antonym of `出口`.
• 消防通道 (xiāofáng tōngdào) - Fire escape route/lane. A specific type of path related to emergency evacuation.
• 紧急 (jǐnjí) - Emergency, urgent. This adjective describes the situation when you would need an `安全出口`.
• 危险 (wēixiǎn) - Danger, dangerous. The reason you need to find a safe exit.
• 灭火器 (mièhuǒqì) - Fire extinguisher. Another key piece of safety equipment.
• 标志 (biāozhì) - Sign, symbol, mark. An `安全出口` is a type of `标志`.
• 疏散 (shūsàn) - To evacuate. The action you take through an `安全出口`.
• 安全带 (ānquán dài) - Seatbelt. Another common compound word using `安全` (safety).
• 报警器 (bàojǐngqì) - Alarm. A device that signals the need to use the `安全出口`.