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拯救 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
拯救zhěngjiùto saveHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #1249, Very Hard
拯救zhěngjiùto rescueHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #1249, Very Hard
zhěngjiù(zheng3jiu4)zheng jiu T3
  1. 1to save
  2. 2to rescue
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March 24, 2026

拯救zhěngjiù(zheng3jiu4)

拯救 (zhěng jiù) means 'to save' or 'to rescue' someone from danger or difficulty. It is commonly used in contexts related to emergencies, humanitarian efforts, or personal situations requiring assistance. The nuance suggests an active effort to bring someone out of a critical situation.

Strokes20Frequency#1249DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of rescuing others is often tied to societal responsibilities, where helping those in need is considered a virtue. This is evident in community efforts during natural disasters, reflecting a strong cultural value of collective support.

Memory tip

Imagine a superhero (拯) with a cape swooping down to rescue someone in a dramatic scene (救). The character 拯 has the radical for 'hand' (扌), symbolizing the act of reaching out to help, while 救 also suggests 'to save' with its strong, urgent connotation.

Meanings of 拯救

zhěngjiù(zheng3jiu4)
1to save
2to rescue
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About 拯救

拯救Simplified
20Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 拯救

Quick Contrast

救 (jiù) - use 拯救 when emphasizing a more active or heroic effort in saving someone, while 救 may imply a more general or less intense form of help.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 拯救 with other similar verbs like 救助 (jiùzhù, to assist), which can imply different levels of help. This word is used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with tone; ensure the third tone in 拯 is pronounced correctly to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 拯救 is not an HSK level word, it connects with other action verbs related to help and support, such as 帮助 (bāngzhù) and 救助 (jiùzhù). Focus on practicing the pronunciation and usage in various emergency scenarios to reinforce understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 拯救 with the word 救助, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我拯救了我的朋友' (Wǒ zhěngjiùle wǒ de péngyǒu) is correct, but saying '我救助了我的朋友' (Wǒ jiùzhùle wǒ de péngyǒu) can imply a less direct or active form of help.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 拯救

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Component characters

拯zhěngto aid, to help; to lift, to raise
9 strokes扌
View full entry
救jiùaid, help; to rescue, to save
HSK 511 strokes攵
View full entry

How to say to save in Chinese

“to save” in Chinese is拯救zhěngjiù

拯救 (zhěng jiù) means 'to save' or 'to rescue' someone from danger or difficulty. It is commonly used in contexts related to emergencies, humanitarian efforts, or personal situations requiring assistance. The nuance suggests an active effort to bring someone out of a critical situation.

When to use 拯救

Common mistakes include confusing 拯救 with other similar verbs like 救助 (jiùzhù, to assist), which can imply different levels of help. This word is used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with tone; ensure the third tone in 拯 is pronounced correctly to avoid misunderstandings.

拯救 or something close to it

救 (jiù) - use 拯救 when emphasizing a more active or heroic effort in saving someone, while 救 may imply a more general or less intense form of help.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 拯救 with the word 救助, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我拯救了我的朋友' (Wǒ zhěngjiùle wǒ de péngyǒu) is correct, but saying '我救助了我的朋友' (Wǒ jiùzhùle wǒ de péngyǒu) can imply a less direct or active form of help.

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拯
救

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Frequently asked questions about 拯救

Synonyms include 救助 (jiùzhù, to assist) and 帮助 (bāngzhù, to help), but each carries slightly different connotations.

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