I can find the entrance, the exit, and the restroom by their signs, understand “no smoking” and “danger”, call for help, and give the numbers for the police and an ambulance.
Signs, and what to shout if you need help
Signs, and what to shout if you need help
The most useful signs are in the table. Two characters help you read them: 出 (chū) — “to go out”, 入 (rù) — “to go in”: 出口 (chūkǒu) — exit, 入口 (rùkǒu) — entrance. Restroom — 厕所 (cèsuǒ) or 洗手间 (xǐshǒujiān), on the door — 男 (nán) or 女 (nǚ); “to go to the restroom” — 上厕所 (shàng cèsuǒ). 禁止吸烟 (jìnzhǐ xīyān) — “no smoking”, 危险 (wēixiǎn) — “danger”, 营业时间 (yíngyè shíjiān) — business hours.
If you need help, shout something short — these are set phrases: 救命！(Jiùmìng!) — “Help!”, 小心！(Xiǎoxīn!) — “Careful!”, 请帮帮我！(Qǐng bāngbang wǒ!) — “Please help me!” You call an ambulance or the police with the verb 叫 (jiào), where English says “call”: 叫救护车 (jiào jiùhùchē), 叫警察 (jiào jǐngchá).
The emergency numbers are in the table: 110 — police, 120 — ambulance, 119 — fire department. A number is read digit by digit, and 1 is said yāo.
Common mistakes:
• ×出口 — “entrance” → 出口 (chūkǒu) — exit; entrance — 入口 (rùkǒu)
• ×110 — yìbǎi yīshí → 110 — yāo yāo líng
Signs
Next to each meaning: where you'll see the sign.
| Sign | Pinyin | Meaning | Where you'll see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 出口 | chūkǒu | exit | on a door |
| 入口 | rùkǒu | entrance | on a door |
| 厕所 / 洗手间 | cèsuǒ / xǐshǒujiān | restroom, toilet | in a café, at an airport |
| 男 / 女 | nán / nǚ | men's / women's | on a restroom door |
| 禁止吸烟 | jìnzhǐ xīyān | no smoking | indoors |
| 危险 | wēixiǎn | danger | construction sites, water |
| 营业时间 | yíngyè shíjiān | business hours | 9:00–21:00, on a store door |
Emergency numbers
In an emergency number, 1 is read yāo.
| Number | How it's read | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | yāo yāo líng | police (警察) |
| 120 | yāo èr líng | ambulance (救护车) |
| 119 | yāo yāo jiǔ | fire department |
Lesson notes
Signs, and what to shout if you need help
The most useful signs are in the table. Two characters help you read them: 出 (chū) — “to go out”, 入 (rù) — “to go in”: 出口 (chūkǒu) — exit, 入口 (rùkǒu) — entrance. Restroom — 厕所 (cèsuǒ) or 洗手间 (xǐshǒujiān), on the door — 男 (nán) or 女 (nǚ); “to go to the restroom” — 上厕所 (shàng cèsuǒ). 禁止吸烟 (jìnzhǐ xīyān) — “no smoking”, 危险 (wēixiǎn) — “danger”, 营业时间 (yíngyè shíjiān) — business hours.
If you need help, shout something short — these are set phrases: 救命！(Jiùmìng!) — “Help!”, 小心！(Xiǎoxīn!) — “Careful!”, 请帮帮我！(Qǐng bāngbang wǒ!) — “Please help me!” You call an ambulance or the police with the verb 叫 (jiào), where English says “call”: 叫救护车 (jiào jiùhùchē), 叫警察 (jiào jǐngchá).
The emergency numbers are in the table: 110 — police, 120 — ambulance, 119 — fire department. A number is read digit by digit, and 1 is said yāo.
Common mistakes:
• ×出口 — “entrance” → 出口 (chūkǒu) — exit; entrance — 入口 (rùkǒu)
• ×110 — yìbǎi yīshí → 110 — yāo yāo líng