How to Say “Poison control” in Chinese
Emergencies and health · HSK 5
"Poison control" in Chinese is 中毒急救中心 (Zhòngdú jíjiù zhōngxīn). Unlike the US, Mainland China doesn't have one famous poison control hotline; most people just dial 120 (the ambulance line) and the operator routes the call. 中毒 (zhòngdú) literally means 'hit by poison' and covers food poisoning, chemical exposure, and overdoses.
Primary translation
中毒急救中心
Zhòngdú jíjiù zhōngxīn
Variants by register
Formal
中毒控制中心
Zhòngdú kòngzhì zhōngxīn
Casual
中毒热线
Zhòngdú rèxiàn
When to use it
Unlike the US, Mainland China doesn't have one famous poison control hotline; most people just dial 120 (the ambulance line) and the operator routes the call. 中毒 (zhòngdú) literally means 'hit by poison' and covers food poisoning, chemical exposure, and overdoses. 急救中心 (jíjiù zhōngxīn) is the standard term for an emergency center. If you say 中毒控制中心 it sounds like a direct translation from English; natives more often say 我可能中毒了,该打哪个电话? (I might be poisoned; which number do I call?).
Example sentences
孩子误吞了药，快打中毒急救中心！
Háizi wùtūn le yào, kuài dǎ zhòngdú jíjiù zhōngxīn!
The child swallowed medicine by mistake; call poison control now!
中毒急救中心的电话是多少？
Zhòngdú jíjiù zhōngxīn de diànhuà shì duōshǎo?
What's the number for poison control?
他喝了清洁剂，我们要联系中毒控制中心。
Tā hē le qīngjiéjì, wǒmen yào liánxì zhòngdú kòngzhì zhōngxīn.
He drank cleaning fluid; we need to contact poison control.