Traveling to a foreign country can be an exciting and enriching experience, but it also comes with its own set of challenges, particularly if you find yourself in an emergency situation. For English speakers traveling to Japan, knowing some essential Japanese vocabulary for emergencies can make a significant difference in how effectively you can handle unexpected circumstances. This article aims to equip you with the necessary phrases and vocabulary that could prove life-saving in various emergency scenarios.
Basic Emergency Vocabulary
Before diving into specific situations, it’s important to familiarize yourself with some basic emergency vocabulary. These fundamental words and phrases will help you communicate your needs more effectively.
– **Emergency**: 緊急事態 (きんきゅうじたい, kinkyuujitai)
– **Help**: 助けて (たすけて, tasukete)
– **Police**: 警察 (けいさつ, keisatsu)
– **Fire**: 火事 (かじ, kaji)
– **Ambulance**: 救急車 (きゅうきゅうしゃ, kyuukyuusha)
– **Hospital**: 病院 (びょういん, byouin)
– **Doctor**: 医者 (いしゃ, isha)
– **Danger**: 危険 (きけん, kiken)
– **Lost**: 迷子 (まいご, maigo)
– **Injury**: 怪我 (けが, kega)
How to Call for Help
In any emergency, being able to call for help is crucial. Here are some phrases you can use to quickly get someone’s attention and ask for assistance:
– **Help!** 助けてください！ (たすけてください, tasukete kudasai!)
– **Call the police!** 警察を呼んでください！ (けいさつをよんでください, keisatsu o yonde kudasai!)
– **Call an ambulance!** 救急車を呼んでください！ (きゅうきゅうしゃをよんでください, kyuukyuusha o yonde kudasai!)
– **I need help!** 助けが必要です！ (たすけがひつようです, tasuke ga hitsuyou desu!)
Medical Emergencies
In the unfortunate event that you or someone else experiences a medical emergency, knowing how to describe the situation to medical professionals is essential.
Common Symptoms
– **Pain**: 痛み (いたみ, itami)
– **Headache**: 頭痛 (ずつう, zutsuu)
– **Stomachache**: 腹痛 (ふくつう, fukutsuu)
– **Fever**: 熱 (ねつ, netsu)
– **Nausea**: 吐き気 (はきけ, hakike)
– **Diarrhea**: 下痢 (げり, geri)
– **Dizziness**: めまい (memai)
– **Allergy**: アレルギー (arerugii)
Describing the Situation
– **I am injured**: 怪我をしました (けがをしました, kega o shimashita)
– **I don’t feel well**: 気分が悪いです (きぶんがわるいです, kibun ga warui desu)
– **I have a fever**: 熱があります (ねつがあります, netsu ga arimasu)
– **I am allergic to…**: …にアレルギーがあります (…にアレルギーがあります, …ni arerugii ga arimasu)
– **I have a chronic illness**: 持病があります (じびょうがあります, jibyou ga arimasu)
Accidents and Injuries
Accidents can happen anywhere, and knowing the right vocabulary can help you explain the situation more clearly to those around you.
Types of Injuries
– **Cut**: 切り傷 (きりきず, kirikizu)
– **Burn**: 火傷 (やけど, yakedo)
– **Fracture**: 骨折 (こっせつ, kossetsu)
– **Sprain**: 捻挫 (ねんざ, nenza)
– **Bleeding**: 出血 (しゅっけつ, shukketsu)
– **Bruise**: 打撲 (だぼく, daboku)
Describing the Incident
– **I had an accident**: 事故に遭いました (じこにあいました, jiko ni aimashita)
– **I fell**: 転びました (ころびました, korobimashita)
– **I cut myself**: 自分を切りました (じぶんをきりました, jibun o kirimashita)
– **I burned myself**: 自分を火傷しました (じぶんをやけどしました, jibun o yakedo shimashita)
Natural Disasters
Japan is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis. Being prepared with the right vocabulary can help you navigate these situations more effectively.
Types of Disasters
– **Earthquake**: 地震 (じしん, jishin)
– **Tsunami**: 津波 (つなみ, tsunami)
– **Typhoon**: 台風 (たいふう, taifuu)
– **Flood**: 洪水 (こうずい, kouzui)
– **Landslide**: 土砂崩れ (どしゃくずれ, doshakuzure)
– **Volcanic Eruption**: 火山噴火 (かざんふんか, kazan funka)
Emergency Instructions
– **Evacuate**: 避難する (ひなんする, hinan suru)
– **Take shelter**: 避難所に行く (ひなんじょにいく, hinanjo ni iku)
– **Stay inside**: 中にいる (なかにいる, naka ni iru)
– **Move to higher ground**: 高いところに移動する (たかいところにいどうする, takai tokoro ni idou suru)
Contacting Authorities
Knowing how to contact local authorities can be a lifesaver in emergency situations. Here are some key numbers and phrases you might need:
Emergency Numbers
– **Police**: 110 (ひゃくじゅう, hyakujū)
– **Fire and Ambulance**: 119 (ひゃくじゅうきゅう, hyakujūkyū)
Useful Phrases
– **I need to report a crime**: 犯罪を報告したいです (はんざいをほうこくしたいです, hanzai o houkoku shitai desu)
– **There’s a fire**: 火事です (かじです, kaji desu)
– **Someone is injured**: 誰かが怪我をしています (だれかがけがをしています, dareka ga kega o shiteimasu)
– **I need medical assistance**: 医療援助が必要です (いりょうえんじょがひつようです, iryou enjo ga hitsuyou desu)
Lost and Found
Losing personal belongings or getting lost yourself can be stressful, but knowing how to communicate your situation can make the process of finding help much smoother.
Describing Lost Items
– **Wallet**: 財布 (さいふ, saifu)
– **Phone**: 携帯電話 (けいたいでんわ, keitai denwa)
– **Passport**: パスポート (pasupōto)
– **Bag**: 鞄 (かばん, kaban)
– **Keys**: 鍵 (かぎ, kagi)
Asking for Help
– **I lost my…**: …を失くしました (をなくしました, …o nakushimashita)
– **I am lost**: 道に迷いました (みちにまよいました, michi ni mayoimashita)
– **Can you help me find…?**: …を探すのを手伝ってくれますか？ (をさがすのをてつだってくれますか, …o sagasu no o tetsudatte kuremasu ka?)
– **Where is the nearest police station?**: 最寄りの警察署はどこですか？ (もよりのけいさつしょはどこですか, moyori no keisatsusho wa doko desu ka?)
Communicating with Locals
In an emergency, you may need to communicate with locals who might not speak English. Here are some phrases that can help you bridge the language gap:
– **Do you speak English?**: 英語を話せますか？ (えいごをはなせますか, eigo o hanasemasu ka?)
– **I don’t understand**: 分かりません (わかりません, wakarimasen)
– **Please speak slowly**: ゆっくり話してください (ゆっくりはなしてください, yukkuri hanashite kudasai)
– **Can you write it down?**: 書いてもらえますか？ (かいてもらえますか, kaite moraemasu ka?)
Emergency Services in Japan
Japan has efficient and reliable emergency services, but knowing how to access them and what to expect can make a big difference.
Police
The Japanese police are known for their efficiency and professionalism. You can contact them by dialing 110. They are equipped to handle a variety of situations, from theft to lost items.
Fire Department and Ambulance
For fire emergencies and medical assistance, dial 119. The fire department not only deals with fires but also provides ambulance services. They are well-trained and can handle a wide range of emergencies.
Hospitals
Hospitals in Japan are generally well-equipped and staffed with professionals who can provide high-quality medical care. While some hospitals have English-speaking staff, it’s always good to know basic medical vocabulary to communicate your needs effectively.
Conclusion
While it’s always best to hope for the best and prepare for the worst, knowing some basic Japanese vocabulary for emergency situations can be incredibly empowering. Whether you’re dealing with a medical emergency, natural disaster, or simply need to report a lost item, these phrases and words can help you navigate challenging situations more effectively. Safe travels!
