救護車 / 救护车
jiùhùchē
The English word "ambulance" is translated into Chinese as 救護車 / 救护车 (jiùhùchē). Wiktionary also lists 救生車 / 救生车 (jiùshēngchē).
Meaning: emergency vehicle (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 救護車 / 救护车 | jiùhùchē |
| 救生車 / 救生车 | jiùshēngchē |
In mainland China, the specific number used to call for medical assistance and an ambulance is 120. You may use the phrase 拨打120 to mean "to dial 120".
What does it mean word for word?
The word 救護車 / 救护车 is composed of 救 (save/rescue), 護 (protect/care) and 車 (vehicle).
How do you pronounce it?
jiùhùchē
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might mistakenly use 救生車 / 救生车 when referring to a medical ambulance. However, 救護車 / 救护车 is the correct term for a vehicle transporting patients to a hospital.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, an ambulance is referred to as a 'green channel' 绿通 when it is granted priority access to a hospital. This refers to a specialized fast-track system for emergency patients.
- The character 護 in 救護車 is the same character used in the word for 'passport', 護照, which literally means 'protect/guard paper'.
- In mainland China, you will often see the word 救护车 written in reverse on the front of the vehicle. This allows drivers looking in their rearview mirrors to read the word correctly.
Examples in context
- 昨天发生了一起交通事故，救护车立即赶到现场。Yesterday, there was a traffic accident, and the ambulance arrived at the scene immediately.
- 快！打电话叫救命车！Hurry! Call an ambulance!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ambulance” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
