How to Say “I need help” in Chinese
Emergencies and health
"I need help" in Chinese is 我需要帮助 (wǒ xū yào bāng zhù). 我需要帮助 (wǒ xūyào bāngzhù) is the formal help request used in serious situations; medical help, getting lost in a dangerous area, urgent situations. 帮我一下 (bāng wǒ yíxià, "help me for a moment") is casual and friendly, for small favors.
Primary translation
我需要帮助
wǒ xū yào bāng zhù
Traditional: 我需要幫助
Variants by register
Casual
帮我一下
bāng wǒ yí xià
When to use it
我需要帮助 (wǒ xūyào bāngzhù) is the formal help request used in serious situations; medical help, getting lost in a dangerous area, urgent situations. 帮我一下 (bāng wǒ yíxià, "help me for a moment") is casual and friendly, for small favors. For a passer-by, 请问能帮我吗 (qǐngwèn néng bāng wǒ ma, "excuse me, can you help me?") softens the ask. Chinese strangers generally respond positively when asked for help; even with zero shared language, pointing and showing phone screens work.
Example sentences
我需要帮助，请叫救护车。
Wǒ xūyào bāngzhù, qǐng jiào jiùhùchē.
I need help, please call an ambulance.
请问能帮我一下吗？
Qǐngwèn néng bāng wǒ yíxià ma?
Excuse me, could you help me?
谁来帮帮我！
Shéi lái bāng bāng wǒ!
Someone please help me!
Related phrases
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