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抢救 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
抢救
qiǎngjiù
to rescue
HSK 5, v, 18 strokes, rank #9114, Hard
qiǎngjiù(qiang3jiu4)qiang jiu T3
1to rescue
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March 24, 2026
抢救(搶救)qiǎngjiù(qiang3jiu4)
The verb 抢救 (qiǎngjiù) means 'to rescue' or 'to save someone or something from danger.' It is commonly used in emergency situations, such as medical rescues, natural disasters, or urgent interventions. The nuance implies a sense of urgency and necessity in the act of rescuing.
Strokes18Frequency#9114DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 抢救 is often linked to communal responsibility, where people are expected to help others in distress. This reflects the Confucian value of benevolence and mutual aid, prevalent during natural disasters or public health crises.
Memory tip
Think of 抢 (qiǎng) as 'to grab' or 'to seize,' which sounds like 'strong' and reminds you of someone urgently grabbing a person in danger. The character 救 (jiù) resembles a person helping another, emphasizing the action of saving. Together, you can picture a strong individual seizing the opportunity to save someone in peril.
Meanings of 抢救
qiǎngjiù(qiang3jiu4)
1to rescue
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About 抢救
抢救Simplified
搶救Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#9114Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 抢救
Podcast: 抢救
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AI study notes for 抢救
Quick Contrast
救 (jiù, to save) — use 抢救 when emphasizing urgency and immediate action, whereas 救 is more general and can refer to saving in a broader context.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 抢救 with just 救 (jiù), which means 'to save' but lacks the urgency implied by 抢. It is generally used in formal contexts, particularly in medical or emergency services. Common collocations include 抢救生命 (qiǎngjiù shēngmìng - to save a life) and 抢救现场 (qiǎngjiù xiànchǎng - to rescue at the scene).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 抢救 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to emergencies and health. Students should focus on using it in context, especially in sentences discussing crisis management or medical emergencies.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 救 when they mean to express urgency, saying 救生命 (jiù shēngmìng) instead of 抢救生命 (qiǎngjiù shēngmìng). Always remember to use 抢救 for situations requiring immediate action.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抢救
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The verb 抢救 (qiǎngjiù) means 'to rescue' or 'to save someone or something from danger.' It is commonly used in emergency situations, such as medical rescues, natural disasters, or urgent interventions. The nuance implies a sense of urgency and necessity in the act of rescuing.
When to use 抢救
Be cautious not to confuse 抢救 with just 救 (jiù), which means 'to save' but lacks the urgency implied by 抢. It is generally used in formal contexts, particularly in medical or emergency services. Common collocations include 抢救生命 (qiǎngjiù shēngmìng - to save a life) and 抢救现场 (qiǎngjiù xiànchǎng - to rescue at the scene).
抢救 or something close to it
救 (jiù, to save) — use 抢救 when emphasizing urgency and immediate action, whereas 救 is more general and can refer to saving in a broader context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 救 when they mean to express urgency, saying 救生命 (jiù shēngmìng) instead of 抢救生命 (qiǎngjiù shēngmìng). Always remember to use 抢救 for situations requiring immediate action.
Write 抢救
抢
救
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Grammar patterns of 抢救
抢救 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
During the rescue process, time is critical, and medical staff race against the clock.
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Frequently asked questions about 抢救
While it primarily refers to urgent rescues, it can also describe situations where immediate action is needed, like saving a project or situation from failure.
Yes, 救 is a general term for 'to save,' while 抢救 specifically conveys urgency and the need for immediate action.
It is pronounced as qiǎngjiù, with the third tone for 抢 and the fourth tone for 救.
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