How to Say “I need help” in Chinese
Emergencies and health · HSK 3
"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!