119

yāoyāojiǔ: 119 - Fire Emergency Number

Quick Summary

  • 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.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): yāo yāo jiǔ (also: yī yī jiǔ)
  • Part of Speech: Proper Noun
  • HSK Level: N/A
  • 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.”
  • Example 2:
    • 如果你闻到烟味，应该马上拨打119。
    • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ wéndào yānwèi, yīnggāi mǎshàng bōdǎ yāoyāojiǔ.
    • 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.”
  • Example 5:
    • 打119的时候，你一定要说清楚你在哪里。
    • Pinyin: Dǎ yāoyāojiǔ de shíhou, nǐ yídìng yào shuō qīngchu nǐ zài nǎlǐ.
    • 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.”
  • Example 6:
    • 每年11月9日是中国的“119消防日”。
    • Pinyin: Měi nián shíyī yuè jiǔ rì shì Zhōngguó de “yāoyāojiǔ xiāofáng rì”.
    • English: Every year, November 9th is China's “119 Fire Safety Day”.
    • Analysis: This sentence directly explains the cultural significance of the number as a date for fire safety awareness.
  • Example 7:
    • 邻居家的厨房着火了，我已经打了119。
    • Pinyin: Línjū jiā de chúfáng zháohuǒ le, wǒ yǐjīng dǎ le yāoyāojiǔ.
    • English: The neighbor's kitchen is on fire, I've already called 119.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates past tense usage with “已经…了 (yǐjīng…le)”, showing a completed action. It's a very realistic scenario.
  • Example 8:
    • 每个灭火器上都印着119这个号码。
    • Pinyin: Měi ge mièhuǒqì shàng dōu yìn zhe yāoyāojiǔ zhège hàomǎ.
    • English: The number 119 is printed on every fire extinguisher.
    • Analysis: This illustrates the practical application of the number as a visual reminder on safety equipment.
  • Example 9:
    • 记住，念这个号码的时候，我们说“yāo yāo jiǔ”。
    • Pinyin: Jìzhù, niàn zhège hàomǎ de shíhou, wǒmen shuō “yāo yāo jiǔ”.
    • English: Remember, when reading this number, we say “yao yao jiu”.
    • Analysis: This is a meta-example, directly teaching the learner about the correct pronunciation, which is a key takeaway.
  • Example 10:
    • 除了火灾，被困在电梯里也可以拨打119求助。
    • Pinyin: Chúle huǒzāi, bèi kùn zài diàntī lǐ yě kěyǐ bōdǎ yāoyāojiǔ qiúzhù.
    • 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.”
  • * 消防员 (xiāofángyuán) - Firefighter. Literally “dispel-prevent personnel.”
  • * 消防车 (xiāofángchē) - Fire truck.
  • * 火灾 (huǒzāi) - A fire disaster or conflagration. This refers to the event itself.
  • * 报警 (bàojǐng) - To report (an incident) to the police. The action you take when calling 110.
  • * 急救 (jíjiù) - First aid; emergency medical treatment. The service associated with 120.
  • * 紧急 (jǐnjí) - Urgent; emergency. A general adjective for any crisis situation.
  • * 安全 (ānquán) - Safe; safety. The underlying concept that all these numbers aim to protect.