救命

• Reading: きゅうめい
• Romaji: kyuumei
• Kanji breakdown: 救 (kyū) — rescue, save, help; 命 (mei) — life, fate, command
• Pronunciation: /kʲɯː.meː/

Meaning

Lifesaving; rescue. The act of saving a person's life in an emergency.

A noun used as a modifier in compounds related to saving lives. Common collocations include 救命措置 (life-saving measures), 救命胴衣 (life jacket), 救命士 (paramedic), and 救命講習 (CPR training). Appears in medical, emergency, and safety contexts. Functions primarily as an attributive noun (救命の/救命~).

Examples

1. 飛行機の座席の下に救命胴衣が入っている。 A life jacket is stored under the airplane seat.
2. 救命措置のおかげで一命を取り留めた。 Thanks to life-saving measures, he managed to survive.
3. 地域で救命講習を受ける人が増えている。 More and more people in the community are attending CPR training.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, emergencies, safety, training

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 救 (kyū, to rescue/to save) + 命 (mei, life/fate). Literally 'rescue life' — the direct act of preserving someone's life from danger.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal