Introduction: Stay Calm and Know the Numbers
Medical emergencies are stressful anywhere, but navigating one in a foreign language can feel overwhelming. The most important thing you can do is stay as calm as possible and know the key emergency numbers before you ever need them. Save these in your phone today.
- 119 — Ambulance (救急車, kyuukyuusha) and Fire
- 110 — Police (警察, keisatsu)
- #7119 — Non-emergency medical consultation hotline (available in many major cities including Tokyo and Osaka)
Operators on 119 often have limited English, so having a few key Japanese phrases ready — or being able to read from this guide — can save critical minutes. Even broken Japanese is appreciated and understood. Speak slowly and clearly.
Calling 119 for an Ambulance
When the call connects, an operator will ask you several standard questions. Here are the most important phrases you will need:
What to Say First
救急車をお願いします。
Kyuukyuusha wo onegai shimasu.
(Please send an ambulance.)
火事ですか、救急ですか？
Kaji desu ka, kyuukyuu desu ka?
(Operator will ask: Is this a fire or a medical emergency?)
Answer: 救急です。
Kyuukyuu desu.
(It is a medical emergency.)
Giving Your Location
場所は [address] です。
Basho wa [address] desu.
(The location is [address].)
近くに [landmark] があります。
Chikaku ni [landmark] ga arimasu.
(There is a [landmark] nearby.)
今、地図を送ります。
Ima, chizu wo okurimasu.
(I will send you my location on the map now.)
— Useful if using a smartphone map app
Describing the Patient
患者は [age]歳の [男性/女性] です。
Kanja wa [age]-sai no [dansei/josei] desu.
(The patient is a [age]-year-old [male/female].)
意識はあります。/ 意識がありません。
Ishiki wa arimasu. / Ishiki ga arimasen.
(They are conscious. / They are unconscious.)
呼吸しています。/ 呼吸していません。
Kokyuu shite imasu. / Kokyuu shite imasen.
(They are breathing. / They are not breathing.)
At the Emergency Room — Checking In
When you arrive at the emergency room (救急外来, kyuukyuu gairai), you will need to communicate quickly with the triage staff. Have your health insurance card (保険証, hokenshou) ready if possible.
救急です。すぐに診てください。
Kyuukyuu desu. Sugu ni mite kudasai.
(This is an emergency. Please see us right away.)
保険証を持っています。
Hokenshou wo motte imasu.
(I have my health insurance card.)
保険証を持っていません。
Hokenshou wo motte imasen.
(I do not have my health insurance card.)
英語が話せる方はいますか？
Eigo ga hanaseru kata wa imasu ka?
(Is there anyone who can speak English?)
通訳をお願いできますか？
Tsuuyaku wo onegai dekimasu ka?
(Can you arrange an interpreter?)
アレルギーがあります。
Arerugii ga arimasu.
(I have allergies.)
薬を飲んでいます。
Kusuri wo nonde imasu.
(I am taking medication.)
Describing Emergency Symptoms
Chest Pain
胸が痛いです。
Mune ga itai desu.
(I have chest pain.)
胸が締め付けられるような痛みがあります。
Mune ga shimetsuke rareru you na itami ga arimasu.
(I have a squeezing, tight pain in my chest.)
左腕にも痛みがあります。
Hidari ude ni mo itami ga arimasu.
(I also have pain in my left arm.)
Difficulty Breathing
息ができません。
Iki ga dekimasen.
(I cannot breathe.)
呼吸が苦しいです。
Kokyuu ga kurushii desu.
(I am having difficulty breathing.)
喉が腫れています。
Nodo ga harete imasu.
(My throat is swelling.)
Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis)
アナフィラキシーショックです。
Anafiraki shii shokku desu.
(This is anaphylactic shock.)
重篤なアレルギー反応が出ています。
Juutoku na arerugii hannou ga dete imasu.
(I am having a severe allergic reaction.)
エピペンを持っています。使ってください。
Epipen wo motte imasu. Tsukatte kudasai.
(I have an EpiPen. Please use it.)
[食べ物/薬/ハチ] にアレルギーがあります。
[Tabemono / Kusuri / Hachi] ni arerugii ga arimasu.
(I am allergic to [food / medication / bees].)
Injury
怪我をしました。
Kega wo shimashita.
(I have been injured.)
出血が止まりません。
Shukketsu ga tomarimasen.
(The bleeding will not stop.)
骨が折れたかもしれません。
Hone ga oreta kamoshiremasen.
(I may have a broken bone.)
頭を打ちました。
Atama wo uchimashita.
(I hit my head.)
[腕/足/背中/腹] が痛いです。
[Ude / Ashi / Senaka / Onaka] ga itai desu.
([Arm / Leg / Back / Stomach] hurts.)
Other Urgent Symptoms
意識を失いそうです。
Ishiki wo ushinai sou desu.
(I feel like I am going to lose consciousness.)
めまいがひどいです。
Memai ga hidoi desu.
(I have severe dizziness.)
嘔吐が止まりません。
Outo ga tomarimasen.
(I cannot stop vomiting.)
高熱があります。
Kounetsu ga arimasu.
(I have a high fever.)
Saying You Need Help Urgently
助けてください！
Tasukete kudasai!
(Please help me!)
緊急です！
Kinkyuu desu!
(This is an emergency!)
急いでください！
Isoide kudasai!
(Please hurry!)
誰か呼んでください！
Dareka yonde kudasai!
(Please call someone!)
医者を呼んでください！
Isha wo yonde kudasai!
(Please call a doctor!)
今すぐ助けが必要です。
Ima sugu tasuke ga hitsuyou desu.
(I need help right now.)
Important Phrases for an Unconscious or Injured Person With You
If you are helping someone else who is unconscious, not breathing, or severely injured, use these phrases to communicate with bystanders and emergency responders.
この人が倒れました！
Kono hito ga taoremashita!
(This person has collapsed!)
意識がありません！
Ishiki ga arimasen!
(They are unconscious!)
呼吸していません！
Kokyuu shite imasen!
(They are not breathing!)
脈がありません。
Myaku ga arimasen.
(There is no pulse.)
AEDはどこですか？
AED wa doko desu ka?
(Where is the AED / defibrillator?)
CPRをしています。
CPR wo shite imasu.
(I am doing CPR.)
誰か119に電話してください！
Dareka hyaku-juu-kyuu ni denwa shite kudasai!
(Someone please call 119!)
この人の名前はわかりません。
Kono hito no namae wa wakarimasen.
(I do not know this person's name.)
私はこの人の知人です。
Watashi wa kono hito no chijin desu.
(I am an acquaintance of this person.)
この人の家族に連絡してください。
Kono hito no kazoku ni renraku shite kudasai.
(Please contact this person's family.)
Key Vocabulary
- 救急車 (kyuukyuusha) — Ambulance
- 救急外来 (kyuukyuu gairai) — Emergency room
- 緊急 (kinkyuu) — Emergency / urgent
- 医者 / 医師 (isha / ishi) — Doctor
- 看護師 (kangoshi) — Nurse
- 患者 (kanja) — Patient
- 痛み (itami) — Pain
- 出血 (shukketsu) — Bleeding
- 骨折 (kossetsu) — Fracture / broken bone
- 意識 (ishiki) — Consciousness
- 呼吸 (kokyuu) — Breathing / respiration
- 脈 (myaku) — Pulse
- アレルギー (arerugii) — Allergy
- 薬 (kusuri) — Medication / medicine
- 保険証 (hokenshou) — Health insurance card
- 手術 (shujutsu) — Surgery
- 入院 (nyuuin) — Hospitalization
- 点滴 (tenteki) — IV drip / intravenous drip
- 注射 (chuusha) — Injection
- 血液型 (ketsuekigata) — Blood type
- 胸 (mune) — Chest
- 腹 (onaka / hara) — Stomach / abdomen
- 頭 (atama) — Head
- 腕 (ude) — Arm
- 足 (ashi) — Leg / foot
- 背中 (senaka) — Back
- 喉 (nodo) — Throat
- 発熱 (hatsunetsu) — Fever
- めまい (memai) — Dizziness
- 嘔吐 (outo) — Vomiting
- 通訳 (tsuuyaku) — Interpreter
Helpful Tips for Expats
Hospitals With English Support
- St. Luke’s International Hospital (聖路加国際病院) — Tokyo, Chuo-ku. One of the most foreigner-friendly hospitals in Japan. Has English-speaking staff and an international patient department. Tel: 03-3541-5151.
- Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic — Minato-ku, Tokyo. English-language clinic popular with the expat community for non-emergency care and referrals.
- International Catholic Hospital (国際カトリック病院 / Seibo Byoin) — Shinjuku, Tokyo. Long-established hospital with services for international patients.
- Osaka International Cancer and Cardiovascular Center — Osaka. Has international patient support services.
- Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital — Kobe. Known for handling international patient cases in the K
Find urgent care near you: Browse our provider directory →
Traveling or new to Japan? SafetyWing offers affordable travel health insurance that covers emergency medical care while you sort out your long-term coverage.
Want to communicate better at the clinic? Even basic Japanese goes a long way — iTalki connects you with Japanese tutors for one-on-one lessons from ¥500/hour.
After your visit: If you receive discharge papers, test results, or follow-up instructions in Japanese, Jozu can translate and save them so nothing gets lost.
