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呼救 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
呼救hūjiùto call for helpHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #13897, Very Hard
hūjiù(hu1jiu4)hu jiu T1
  1. 1to call for help
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March 24, 2026

呼救hūjiù(hu1jiu4)

呼救 (hūjiù) means 'to call for help' or 'to shout for assistance.' It is commonly used in emergency situations where one urgently needs aid or support. The term conveys a strong sense of desperation and urgency.

Strokes19Frequency#13897DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of calling for help is often tied to the communal spirit, where neighbors and friends are expected to assist one another in times of need, reflecting the importance of community support.

Memory tip

Imagine a person who is in danger, desperately calling out for help. The character 呼 (hū) looks like a person with their mouth open, shouting, while 救 (jiù) includes the radical for 'save' or 'rescue.' Together, they vividly represent the act of calling out for someone to save you.

Meanings of 呼救

hūjiù(hu1jiu4)
1to call for help
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About 呼救

呼救Simplified
19Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI Study Notes for 呼救

Quick Contrast

求救 (qiújiù) - use 呼救 (hūjiù) when emphasizing the act of shouting for help in an urgent situation, while 求救 (qiújiù) can imply a more general request for help.

Usage Notes

This term is typically used in informal contexts, especially when someone is in distress. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar phrases; ensure you use 呼救 specifically for urgent calls for help. Be mindful of the tones as mispronouncing it could change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

呼救 is not an HSK vocabulary word but is relevant for beginners learning everyday phrases related to emergencies. Focus on the components of the characters and practice pronunciation to reinforce your understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 呼叫 (hūjiào), which means 'to call' in a general sense, instead of 呼救 when referring to emergency situations. Remember, 呼救 specifically denotes calling for help.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 呼救

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Component Characters

呼hūto call
HSK 78 strokes口
View full entry
救jiùaid, help; to rescue, to save
HSK 511 strokes攵
View full entry

How to say to call for help in Chinese

“to call for help” in Chinese is呼救hūjiù

呼救 (hūjiù) means 'to call for help' or 'to shout for assistance.' It is commonly used in emergency situations where one urgently needs aid or support. The term conveys a strong sense of desperation and urgency.

When to use 呼救

This term is typically used in informal contexts, especially when someone is in distress. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar phrases; ensure you use 呼救 specifically for urgent calls for help. Be mindful of the tones as mispronouncing it could change the meaning.

呼救 or something close to it

求救 (qiújiù) - use 呼救 (hūjiù) when emphasizing the act of shouting for help in an urgent situation, while 求救 (qiújiù) can imply a more general request for help.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 呼叫 (hūjiào), which means 'to call' in a general sense, instead of 呼救 when referring to emergency situations. Remember, 呼救 specifically denotes calling for help.

Write 呼救

呼
救

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Frequently Asked Questions about 呼救

Use 呼救 when you want to emphasize the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate assistance.

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