In this lesson you will learn how to call for an ambulance during a medical emergency. You’ll also learn related phrases for describing people’s physical condition including injuries and illness.

Main Dialog 1 – Calling an ambulance (Japanese)

A: 119番の消防ですが 火事ですか、救急ですか?

B: 病気です。人が倒れています。

Main Dialog 1 – Calling an ambulance (Pronunciation)

A: Hyaku juu kyuu ban no shōbō desu ga, kaji desu ka, kyuukyuu desu ka?

B: Byōki desu. Hito ga taorete imasu.

Main Dialog 1 – Calling an ambulance (English)

A: This is 119, Fire Department. Is it fire or a medical emergency? B: Medical emergency.

A: Is this an injury or illness?

Extra phrases for medical emergencies

Here are some extra phrases you might find useful during a medical emergency.

If you want to ask someone to call an ambulance for you, you can use the following phrase:

すみません、救急車を呼んでください

Sumimasen, Kyuukyuusha o yonde kudasai.

Excuse me, please call an ambulance.

It’s common for the emergency services to ask you for your details including your name. For example:

お名前を教えてください

Onamae o oshiete kudasai

What’s your name?

ジョン・スミスです

Jon sumisu desu

I’m Jon Smith

You might then want to explain what’s happened by using the following phrases:

病人がいます

Byōnin ga imasu

There’s a sick person

怪我をした人がいます

Kega o shita hito ga imasu

There’s an injured person.

If there’s been a traffic accident you can say:

交通事故です

Kōtsuu jiko desu

There’s been a traffic accident

Here are some other phrases that describe someone’s medical condition. You can use these to talk about yourself or someone else:

呼吸が苦しいです

Kokyuu ga kurushii desu

(Someone is having) difficulty breathing

胸が苦しいです

Mune ga kurushii

(Someone has) a tight or painful chest

意識不明です

Ishiki fumei desu

(Someone is) unconscious

出血です

Shukketsu desu

(Someone is) bleeding.