救命

• Pinyin: jiù mìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 救 = 求 + 攵, to save/rescue; 命 = 亼 + 叩, life/fate

Meaning

Help!; Save me!; to save a life. An exclamation calling for urgent help or the act of saving someone's life.

As an interjection, it's a cry for help in emergencies. As a verb-object phrase (救+命), it means to save a life. Colloquially also used to express exasperation or feeling overwhelmed (太难了，救命！). Common in phrases like 救命恩人 (life-saving benefactor) and 救命稻草 (last straw of hope).

Examples

1. 有人落水了，大家快来救命！ Someone fell into the water — everyone come quick, help!
2. 这道数学题太难了，救命，谁能帮帮我？ This math problem is too hard — help, can someone give me a hand?
3. 医生的及时诊断救了他一命，全家人都非常感激。 The doctor's timely diagnosis saved his life, and the whole family is extremely grateful.

Usage Guide

Context: emergency, colloquial, everyday

Tone: urgent

Do Say

• 救命！有人抢劫！(Help! Someone's robbing me!)
• 他是我的救命恩人。(He's my life-saving benefactor.)

Don't Say

• 在真正紧急情况下用网络流行的夸张语气说救命 (In real emergencies, say 救命 urgently and clearly — don't use the casual/joking tone that's common online)

Origin & History

Compound of 救 (to save, to rescue) + 命 (life). Literally 'save life' — either as a cry for help or describing the act of saving someone.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal