Visiting Japan · Lesson 8

Help and emergencies

Japan is a very safe place to visit, but it's good to be ready. These phrases help if you feel ill, lose something or need the police, and the table has the numbers to call. Tap to hear any line. The bar at the bottom plays a hands-free drill for walking.

14 phrases for when you need help

Each card shows the phrase, how to say it in English letters, and a short line using it. Tap "Show English" for the meaning and a note on when to say it, and tap the speaker to hear it.

G01

助たすけてくださいTasukete kudasai!emergency

誰だれか、助たすけてください！
Dareka, tasukete kudasai!

help! · Somebody help, please!
Shout it in an emergency.
G02

救急車きゅうきゅうしゃを呼よんでくださいKyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai.emergency

すみません、救急車きゅうきゅうしゃを呼よんでください！
Sumimasen, kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai!

please call an ambulance · Excuse me, please call an ambulance!
Ask someone nearby, or call 119 yourself.
G03

警察けいさつを呼よんでくださいKeisatsu o yonde kudasai.emergency

警察けいさつを呼よんでください！
Keisatsu o yonde kudasai!

please call the police · Please call the police!
Or call 110 yourself.
G04

救急きゅうきゅうですKyūkyū des.emergency

救急きゅうきゅうです。友達ともだちが倒たおれました。
Kyūkyū des. Tomodachi ga taoremashta.

it's a medical emergency (on 119) · It's an ambulance call. My friend has collapsed.
Your answer when 119 asks fire or ambulance.
G05

火事かじですKaji des!emergency

火事かじです！
Kaji des!

fire! · There's a fire!
Your answer when 119 asks, or shout it to warn people.
G06

危あぶないAbunai!emergency

危あぶない！
Abunai!

watch out! · Watch out!
You may hear people shout this. It means danger: stop and look around.
G07

大丈夫だいじょうぶですかDaijōbu des ka?everywhere

大丈夫だいじょうぶですか？
Daijōbu des ka?

are you all right? · Are you all right?
To check on someone, and you'll hear it if you look unwell. Answer 大丈夫だいじょうぶです if you're fine.
G08

気分きぶんが悪わるいですKibun ga warui des.health

すみません、ちょっと気分きぶんが悪わるいです。
Sumimasen, chotto kibun ga warui des.

I feel unwell · Excuse me, I don't feel well.
For feeling sick or faint. Staff will help you find somewhere to sit.
G09

ここが痛いたいですKoko ga itai des.health

ここがとても痛いたいです。
Koko ga totemo itai des.

it hurts here · It really hurts here.
Point to where it hurts. Easier than learning body parts.
G10

病院びょういんに行いきたいですByōin ni ikitai des.health

近ちかくの病院びょういんに行いきたいです。
Chikaku no byōin ni ikitai des.

I want to go to a hospital · I want to go to a nearby hospital.
Hotel staff can tell you where to go and sometimes call ahead.
G11

英語えいごが話はなせるお医者いしゃさんはいますかEigo ga hanaseru oishasan wa imas ka?health

英語えいごが話はなせるお医者いしゃさんはいますか？
Eigo ga hanaseru oishasan wa imas ka?

is there an English-speaking doctor? · Is there a doctor who speaks English?
Ask at a hospital or your hotel.
G12

薬局やっきょくはどこですかYakkyoku wa doko des ka?health

この近ちかくに薬局やっきょくはありますか？
Kono chikaku ni yakkyoku wa arimas ka?

where's a pharmacy? · Is there a pharmacy near here?
Drugstores (ドラッグストア) also sell common medicines.
G13

財布さいふをなくしましたSaifu o nakushimashta.police

すみません、財布さいふをなくしました。
Sumimasen, saifu o nakushimashta.

I've lost my wallet · Excuse me, I've lost my wallet.
Go to a police box or ask station staff. Many lost things are handed in.
G14

交番こうばんはどこですかKōban wa doko des ka?police

一番いちばん近ちかい交番こうばんはどこですか？
Ichiban chikai kōban wa doko des ka?

where's the police box? · Where's the nearest police box?
A small local police office, often near stations.

Numbers to call

Calls to 110 and 119 are free from any phone.

Number	For	Note
110	Police (警察けいさつ)	Free from any phone.
119	Ambulance and fire (救急きゅうきゅう・消防しょうぼう)	They ask first: fire or ambulance? Say 救急きゅうきゅうです or 火事かじです.
050-3816-2787	Japan Visitor Hotline	24 hours, in English, Chinese and Korean. For tourist help and emergencies.
交番こうばん	Police box	For lost things, directions and help. Not a phone number.

Police boxes help with everything. A 交番こうばん is a small police office found near many stations. Officers help with directions and lost things, not just crime.
Lost things often come back. If you leave something on a train, tell station staff soon. Lost property is often handed in.
Fire or ambulance? When you call 119, the first question is 火事かじですか、救急きゅうきゅうですか: fire or ambulance?

Three patterns to use today

〜をなくしました

Say what you've lost.

パスポートをなくしました。

Pasupōto o nakushimashta.

I've lost my passport.

スマホをなくしました。

Sumaho o nakushimashta.

I've lost my phone.

〜が痛いたいです

Say what hurts.

頭あたまが痛いたいです。

Atama ga itai des.

I have a headache.

お腹なかが痛いたいです。

Onaka ga itai des.

I have a stomach ache.

〜に忘わすれ物ものをしました

Say where you left something.

電車でんしゃに忘わすれ物ものをしました。

Densha ni wasuremono o shimashta.

I left something on the train.

タクシーに忘わすれ物ものをしました。

Takushī ni wasuremono o shimashta.

I left something in a taxi.

Say it in Japanese

Say each one out loud before you reveal the answer. Getting close counts.

1. Help!
2. Please call an ambulance.
3. Please call the police.
4. I feel unwell.
5. It hurts here.
6. I have a fever.
7. I want to go to a hospital.
8. I've lost my wallet.
9. Where's the police box?
10. Are you all right?