jiùyuán: 救援 - Rescue, Aid, Support

• Keywords: jiuyuan, 救援, rescue in Chinese, Chinese word for aid, emergency rescue, disaster relief China, jiuyuan meaning, 救, 援, to save in Chinese, Chinese emergency services
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 救援 (jiùyuán), meaning “rescue” or “to aid” in emergency situations. This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, character breakdown, and cultural significance in the context of disaster relief in China. Through practical examples, you'll understand how to use 救援 (jiùyuán) to talk about emergency services, rescue missions, and life-saving support, differentiating it from everyday “help.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiùyuán
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To rescue, or the act of providing aid and support in an emergency.
• In a Nutshell: 救援 (jiùyuán) is the word for a serious, organized rescue operation. It's not about helping a friend move a sofa; it's what firefighters, search teams, and international aid organizations do after an earthquake, flood, or major accident. The word carries a sense of urgency, gravity, and coordinated effort, often involving professionals in life-or-death situations.

• 救 (jiù): To save, to rescue. This character combines ⽄ (originally 求 qiú, “to seek” or “to beg”) and 攵 (a variation of 攴 pū, meaning “to tap” or “to strike,” indicating action). You can think of it as taking action (攵) in response to a plea for help (求).
• 援 (yuán): To aid, to support, to pull. This character is made of the “hand” radical 扌(shǒu) on the left and 爰 (yuán) on the right. The hand radical 扌clearly signifies action done with the hands, like “lending a hand” or pulling someone to safety.
• Together, 救援 (jiùyuán) literally means “to save and support.” The combination reinforces the idea of a formal, active, and supportive rescue effort.

In China, the concept of 救援 (jiùyuán) is strongly linked to large-scale, collective action, particularly state-led disaster response. Following natural disasters like the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, the term became ubiquitous in media, symbolizing the mobilization of the military (the PLA), emergency services, and citizen volunteers in a unified national effort. This contrasts with the Western archetype of the “lone hero” often seen in films. While individual acts of bravery are celebrated, the cultural emphasis of 救援 (jiùyuán) is on the power and efficiency of the collective and the government's responsibility to protect its people. A swift and effective 救援 operation is often portrayed as a demonstration of governmental competence and social cohesion, reflecting a deep-seated value of societal stability and order. The term itself feels official and organized, underscoring the seriousness of the state's role in a crisis.

救援 (jiùyuán) is a formal and specific term. You will encounter it most often in news reports, official announcements, and discussions about serious incidents.

• Disaster Relief: This is its primary context. You'll hear it constantly during news coverage of typhoons, floods, earthquakes, or large accidents. For example, `地震救援 (dìzhèn jiùyuán)` means “earthquake rescue.”
• Emergency Services: It's the professional term for the work done by firefighters, police, and medical first responders. `紧急救援 (jǐnjí jiùyuán)` means “emergency rescue.”
• As a Noun: It can refer to the rescue mission itself. For example, `救援工作 (jiùyuán gōngzuò)` means “rescue work.”
• Formality: Highly formal. Using it for a minor, everyday problem would sound strange and overly dramatic. For helping with homework or carrying groceries, you would use `帮忙 (bāngmáng)` or `帮助 (bāngzhù)`.

• Example 1:
  • 救援队已经到达了事故现场。
  • Pinyin: Jiùyuánduì yǐjīng dàodá le shìgù xiànchǎng.
  • English: The rescue team has already arrived at the accident scene.
  • Analysis: Here, 救援 acts as a descriptor for `队 (duì)`, forming the common compound noun `救援队 (jiùyuánduì)`, “rescue team.”
• Example 2:
  • 我们必须在黄金72小时内完成救援。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū zài huángjīn qīshí'èr xiǎoshí nèi wánchéng jiùyuán.
  • English: We must complete the rescue within the golden 72 hours.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 救援 functions as a noun, meaning “the rescue” or “the act of rescuing.” The phrase “golden 72 hours” is a standard term in disaster response.
• Example 3:
  • 他们的任务是救援被困的矿工。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de rènwù shì jiùyuán bèi kùn de kuànggōng.
  • English: Their mission is to rescue the trapped miners.
  • Analysis: Here, 救援 is used as a verb, “to rescue.” The structure is “mission is to (verb).”
• Example 4:
  • 许多国家向灾区提供了救援物资。
  • Pinyin: Xǔduō guójiā xiàng zāiqū tígōng le jiùyuán wùzī.
  • English: Many countries provided rescue supplies to the disaster area.
  • Analysis: `救援物资 (jiùyuán wùzī)` is another common compound noun, meaning “rescue supplies” or “relief goods.”
• Example 5:
  • 幸存者们正在等待救援。
  • Pinyin: Xìngcúnzhěmen zhèngzài děngdài jiùyuán.
  • English: The survivors are waiting for rescue.
  • Analysis: Used as a noun here, 救援 is the object that the survivors are waiting for.
• Example 6:
  • 这次海上救援行动非常成功。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì hǎishàng jiùyuán xíngdòng fēicháng chénggōng.
  • English: This maritime rescue operation was very successful.
  • Analysis: 救援 modifies `行动 (xíngdòng)` to specify the type of operation.
• Example 7:
  • 他拨打了紧急救援电话。
  • Pinyin: Tā bōdǎ le jǐnjí jiùyuán diànhuà.
  • English: He dialed the emergency rescue phone number.
  • Analysis: The phrase `紧急救援 (jǐnjí jiùyuán)` is a fixed expression for “emergency rescue.”
• Example 8:
  • 训练有素的救援犬在搜寻幸存者方面发挥了关键作用。
  • Pinyin: Xùnliàn yǒusù de jiùyuánquǎn zài sōuxún xìngcúnzhě fāngmiàn fāhuī le guānjiàn zuòyòng.
  • English: Well-trained rescue dogs played a key role in searching for survivors.
  • Analysis: `救援犬 (jiùyuánquǎn)` is the specific term for a “rescue dog” or “search and rescue (SAR) dog.”
• Example 9:
  • 由于天气恶劣，救援工作被迫暂停。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú tiānqì èliè, jiùyuán gōngzuò bèi pò zàntíng.
  • English: Due to the severe weather, the rescue work was forced to pause.
  • Analysis: `救援工作 (jiùyuán gōngzuò)`, “rescue work,” is a very common phrase in official reports and news.
• Example 10:
  • 国际救援队正从世界各地赶来。
  • Pinyin: Guójì jiùyuánduì zhèng cóng shìjiè gèdì gǎnlái.
  • English: International rescue teams are rushing in from all over the world.
  • Analysis: This shows the global scale of the term, used in contexts like international aid.

• `救援 (jiùyuán)` vs. `救 (jiù)`: `救 (jiù)` is the general verb “to save.” You can use it for small, informal situations. `救援 (jiùyuán)` is for formal, organized, and often large-scale rescue operations.
  • Correct: 我救了邻居的猫。(Wǒ jiù le línjū de māo.) - I saved the neighbor's cat.
  • Incorrect: 我救援了邻居的猫。(Wǒ jiùyuán le línjū de māo.) - This sounds overly dramatic, as if you launched a professional mission for a cat.
• `救援 (jiùyuán)` vs. `帮忙 (bāngmáng)` / `帮助 (bāngzhù)`: This is the most critical distinction. `帮忙 (bāngmáng)` means “to lend a hand” for everyday tasks. `帮助 (bāngzhù)` is a more general “to help” or “to assist.” 救援 (jiùyuán) is strictly for emergencies.
  • Incorrect: 你能救援我搬这个箱子吗？ (Nǐ néng jiùyuán wǒ bān zhège xiāngzi ma?)
  • Correct: 你能帮忙搬这个箱子吗？ (Nǐ néng bāngmáng bān zhège xiāngzi ma?) - Can you help me move this box?

• 救 (jiù): The core verb “to save” or “to rescue.” 救援 is a more formal and comprehensive version.
• 救护车 (jiùhùchē): Ambulance. Literally “save/protect vehicle.”
• 消防员 (xiāofángyuán): Firefighter. Literally “extinguish/prevent fire personnel.” They are primary actors in many 救援 scenarios.
• 紧急 (jǐnjí): Urgent, emergency. Often precedes 救援 as in `紧急救援`.
• 援助 (yuánzhù): Aid, assistance, support. Broader than 救援, as it can include financial aid, medical supplies, or technical support, not just physical rescue.
• 灾难 (zāinàn): Disaster, catastrophe. The typical event that necessitates a 救援 mission.
• 幸存者 (xìngcúnzhě): Survivor. The person or people who are the object of the 救援.
• 帮忙 (bāngmáng): A common, informal verb meaning “to help” or “do a favor.” The opposite of 救援 in terms of formality and context.
• 支持 (zhīchí): To support. This usually refers to moral, financial, or logistical support, not direct, hands-on rescue.