Japanese - Emergencies

Lesson 136 of 168

A street scene in Japan where someone is calling for help; text shows Japanese emergency phrases like 緊急です and 今すぐ助けてください.

Goal: Short urgent phrases for safety

Free Japanese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome — quick and calm. In this short lesson you'll learn clear, polite emergency phrases you can say right away.

Level A2: This lesson focuses on urgent, everyday emergency phrases in Japanese (e.g., 緊急です (Kinkyū desu.) — “This is an emergency.”). It's CEFR-aligned and practical: you will hear, repeat, and practice asking for help, reporting injuries or fires, and asking someone to call emergency services. Lesson 136 keeps it compact but real — be ready to use these lines when it matters.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Hear and repeat common emergency phrases in polite Japanese (です/ます).
  • Ask for immediate help and request emergency services (今すぐ助けてください。, 110番か119番に電話してください。).
  • Report injuries or fires and ask about safety (けがをしている人がいます。, 火事です。, ここは安全な感じがしません。).
A city sidewalk at dusk with people responding to an urgent situation; Japanese emergency language is overlaid (e.g., 火事です。).

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

緊急です

Kinkyū desu.

This is an emergency.

Meaning: This is an emergency.

When to use: Use to state that the situation is urgent and needs immediate attention.

緊急です。落ち着いてください。

Kinkyū desu. Ochitsuite kudasai.

This is an emergency. Please stay calm.
緊急です。すぐ助けが必要です。

Kinkyū desu. Sugu tasuke ga hitsuyō desu.

This is an emergency. Help is needed right away.

今すぐ助けてください。

Ima sugu tasukete kudasai.

I need help right now.

Meaning: I need help right now.

When to use: Use this polite, urgent request when you need immediate assistance.

今すぐ助けてください。けが人がいます。

Ima sugu tasukete kudasai. Keganin ga imasu.

Please help right now. There is an injured person.
火が広がっています。今すぐ助けてください。

Hi ga hirogatte imasu. Ima sugu tasukete kudasai.

The fire is spreading. Please help right now.

110番か119番に電話してください。

Hyakutōban ka hyakujūkyūban ni denwa shite kudasai.

Please call emergency services.

Meaning: Please call emergency services.

When to use: Ask someone to contact the police (110) or fire/ambulance (119) in Japan.

Tip: Don't confuse numbers: 110 is police, 119 is fire/ambulance.

すぐ110番か119番に電話してください。

Sugu hyakujūban ka hyakujūkyūban ni denwa shite kudasai.

Please call 110 or 119 right away.
けが人がいるので110番か119番に電話してください。

Keganin ga iru node hyakujūban ka hyakujūkyūban ni denwa shite kudasai.

There is an injured person, so please call 110 or 119.

けがをしている人がいます。

Kega o shite iru hito ga imasu.

Someone is hurt.

Meaning: Someone is hurt.

When to use: Report that a person is injured at the scene so responders know to look for injuries.

あそこにけがをしている人がいます。

Asoko ni kega o shite iru hito ga imasu.

There is someone injured over there.
けがをしている人がいます。動かさないでください。

Kega o shite iru hito ga imasu. Ugokasanaide kudasai.

Someone is injured. Please don't move them.

火事です

Kaji desu.

There is a fire.

Meaning: There is a fire.

When to use: Shout or report a fire quickly to warn others or to inform emergency services.

火事です！早く出てください。

Kaji desu! Hayaku dete kudasai.

Fire! Please get out quickly.
向こうの建物で火事です。通報してください。

Mukō no tatemono de kaji desu. Tsūhō shite kudasai.

There's a fire in that building. Please report it.

一番近い病院はどこですか。

Ichiban chikai byōin wa doko desu ka.

Where is the nearest hospital?

Meaning: Where is the nearest hospital?

When to use: Ask for the location of medical help when someone needs urgent treatment.

一番近い病院はどこですか。けが人がいます。

Ichiban chikai byōin wa doko desu ka. Keganin ga imasu.

Where is the nearest hospital? There is an injured person.
近くの一番近い病院はどこですか？私は息ができません。

Chikaku no ichiban chikai byōin wa doko desu ka? Watashi wa iki ga dekimasen.

Where is the nearest hospital nearby? I can't breathe.

ここは安全な感じがしません。

Koko wa anzen na kanji ga shimasen.

I don't feel safe.

Meaning: I don't feel safe here.

When to use: Use when a place or situation feels dangerous and you want to move or get help.

ここは安全な感じがしません。離れましょう。

Koko wa anzen na kanji ga shimasen. Hanaremashō.

I don't feel safe here. Let's move away.
夜で人が多くないから、ここは安全な感じがしません。

Yoru de hito ga ōkunai kara, koko wa anzen na kanji ga shimasen.

It's night and not many people are around; I don't feel safe here.

そばにいてください。

Soba ni ite kudasai.

Please stay with me.

Meaning: Please stay with me.

When to use: Ask someone to remain nearby for safety or support during an emergency.

怖いので、そばにいてください。

Kowai node, soba ni ite kudasai.

I'm scared, so please stay with me.
けがをしたので、そばにいてください。

Kega o shita node, soba ni ite kudasai.

I'm injured, so please stay with me.

息ができません。

Iki ga dekimasen.

I can't breathe.

Meaning: I can't breathe.

When to use: Use this clear health warning if you or someone else is having breathing difficulty.

Tip: Don't say 息がありません (I have no breath) when you mean struggling to breathe; 息ができません is clearer medically.

息ができません。助けてください。

Iki ga dekimasen. Tasukete kudasai.

I can't breathe. Please help.
ショックで息ができません。すぐに119に電話してください。

Shokku de iki ga dekimasen. Sugu ni hyakujūkyūban ni denwa shite kudasai.

I can't breathe from shock. Please call 119 right away.

私の___に電話してもらえますか。

Watashi no ___ ni denwa shite moraemasu ka.

Can you call my ___?

Meaning: Can you call my ___?

When to use: Ask someone to phone a specific person, like your mother or a friend, in a polite way.

Tip: Use に to mark the person being called (私の母に). Don't use を in this structure.

私の母に電話してもらえますか。住所を伝えてください。

Watashi no haha ni denwa shite moraemasu ka. Jūsho o tsutaete kudasai.

Can you call my mother? Please give her my address.
けがしたので、私の友だちに電話してもらえますか。

Kega shita node, watashi no tomodachi ni denwa shite moraemasu ka.

I'm hurt; can you call my friend?

けがはありませんか？

Kega wa arimasen ka?

Are you hurt?

Meaning: Are you hurt?

When to use: Ask someone specifically if they have injuries after an accident or during a crisis.

けがはありませんか？痛いところはありますか？

Kega wa arimasen ka? Itai tokoro wa arimasu ka?

Are you hurt? Is there anywhere that hurts?
みなさん、けがはありませんか？救急車を呼びますか？

Minasan, kega wa arimasen ka? Kyūkyūsha o yobimasu ka?

Everyone, are there any injuries? Should I call an ambulance?

みなさん、大丈夫ですか？

Minasan, daijōbu desu ka?

Is everyone okay?

Meaning: Is everyone okay?

When to use: Check the safety of a group after a sudden event like a fire or collapse.

みなさん、大丈夫ですか？落ち着いてください。

Minasan, daijōbu desu ka? Ochitsuite kudasai.

Is everyone okay? Please stay calm.
地震の後、みなさん、大丈夫ですか？

Jishin no ato, minasan, daijōbu desu ka?

After the earthquake, is everyone okay?

動かないでください。

Ugokanaide kudasai.

Please don't move.

Meaning: Please don't move.

When to use: Tell an injured person to remain still so you avoid making their injuries worse.

けがをしています。動かないでください。

Kega o shite imasu. Ugokanaide kudasai.

You're injured. Please don't move.
骨が折れているかもしれないので、動かないでください。

Hone ga orete iru kamoshirenai node, ugokanaide kudasai.

You may have a broken bone, so please don't move.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Street fire with an injured person

Two people in a small crowd: one reports a fire and an injured person, the other calls for help; Japanese emergency phrases are visible.

What emergency does Anna report first?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

火事です

Kaji desu!

There's a fire!

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

みなさん、大丈夫ですか？

Minasan, daijōbu desu ka?

Is everyone okay?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

けがをしている人がいます。今すぐ助けてください。

Kega o shite iru hito ga imasu. Ima sugu tasukete kudasai.

Someone is hurt. Please help right now.

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

110番か119番に電話してください。そばにいてください。

Hyakujūban ka hyakujūkyūban ni denwa shite kudasai. Soba ni ite kudasai.

Please call 110 or 119. Stay with me.

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

分かりました。動かないでください。

Wakarimashita. Ugokanaide kudasai.

Understood. Please don't move.

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

息ができません！

Iki ga dekimasen!

I can't breathe!

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase asks someone to stay nearby?

Which phrase should you say if you cannot breathe?

Which phrase asks someone to call emergency numbers?

Which phrase asks if everyone in a group is okay?

I'm injured; can you call my mother right away?

けがをしたので、すぐに私の___に電話してもらえますか。

Tell the paramedics: 'I can't breathe.'

（救急隊に）伝えてください：「___」。

I see loud noise and smoke nearby. Ask someone to call 110 or 119.

近くで大きな音と煙が見えます。誰かに___と頼んでください。

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

緊急です

Kinkyū desu.

This is an emergency.

Say this phrase out loud:

今すぐ助けてください。

Ima sugu tasukete kudasai.

I need help right now.

Say this phrase out loud:

110番か119番に電話してください。

Hyakujūban ka hyakujūkyūban ni denwa shite kudasai.

Please call emergency services.

Say this phrase out loud:

けがをしている人がいます。

Kega o shite iru hito ga imasu.

Someone is hurt.

Say this phrase out loud:

火事です

Kaji desu.

There is a fire.

Say this phrase out loud:

一番近い病院はどこですか。

Ichiban chikai byōin wa doko desu ka.

Where is the nearest hospital?

Say this phrase out loud:

ここは安全な感じがしません。

Koko wa anzen na kanji ga shimasen.

I don't feel safe here.

Say this phrase out loud:

そばにいてください。

Soba ni ite kudasai.

Please stay with me.

Say this phrase out loud:

息ができません。

Iki ga dekimasen.

I can't breathe.

Say this phrase out loud:

私の___に電話してもらえますか。

Watashi no ___ ni denwa shite moraemasu ka.

Can you call my ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

けがはありませんか？

Kega wa arimasen ka?

Are you hurt?

Say this phrase out loud:

みなさん、大丈夫ですか？

Minasan, daijōbu desu ka?

Is everyone okay?

Say this phrase out loud:

動かないでください。

Ugokanaide kudasai.

Please don't move.