Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
抢救 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
抢救qiǎngjiùto rescueHSK 5, v, rank #9114, Hard
qiǎngjiù(qiang3jiu4) T3
  1. 1to rescue
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
抢救(搶救)qiǎngjiù(qiang3jiu4)

The verb 抢救 (qiǎngjiù) means 'to rescue' or 'to save someone or something from danger.' It is commonly used in emergency situations, such as medical rescues, natural disasters, or urgent interventions. The nuance implies a sense of urgency and necessity in the act of rescuing.

Frequency#9114DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 抢救 is often linked to communal responsibility, where people are expected to help others in distress. This reflects the Confucian value of benevolence and mutual aid, prevalent during natural disasters or public health crises.

Memory Tip

Think of 抢 (qiǎng) as 'to grab' or 'to seize,' which sounds like 'strong' and reminds you of someone urgently grabbing a person in danger. The character 救 (jiù) resembles a person helping another, emphasizing the action of saving. Together, you can picture a strong individual seizing the opportunity to save someone in peril.

Meanings of 抢救

qiǎngjiù(qiang3jiu4)
1to rescue
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 抢救

抢救Simplified
搶救Traditional
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#9114Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 抢救

JasonAmy

Podcast: 抢救

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 抢救

Quick Contrast

救 (jiù, to save) — use 抢救 when emphasizing urgency and immediate action, whereas 救 is more general and can refer to saving in a broader context.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 抢 (qiǎng) as 'to grab' or 'to seize,' which sounds like 'strong' and reminds you of someone urgently grabbing a person in danger. The character 救 (jiù) resembles a person helping another, emphasizing the action of saving. Together, you can picture a strong individual seizing the opportunity to save someone in peril.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 抢救 with just 救 (jiù), which means 'to save' but lacks the urgency implied by 抢. It is generally used in formal contexts, particularly in medical or emergency services. Common collocations include 抢救生命 (qiǎngjiù shēngmìng - to save a life) and 抢救现场 (qiǎngjiù xiànchǎng - to rescue at the scene).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 抢救 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to emergencies and health. Students should focus on using it in context, especially in sentences discussing crisis management or medical emergencies.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 抢救 is often linked to communal responsibility, where people are expected to help others in distress. This reflects the Confucian value of benevolence and mutual aid, prevalent during natural disasters or public health crises.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 救 when they mean to express urgency, saying 救生命 (jiù shēngmìng) instead of 抢救生命 (qiǎngjiù shēngmìng). Always remember to use 抢救 for situations requiring immediate action.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 抢救

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 抢救 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

qiǎngto fight over
HSK 57 strokes
View full entry
jiùaid, help; to rescue, to save
HSK 511 strokes
View full entry

Write 抢救

Practice writing 抢救 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 抢救

抢救 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

经过医生的____,他终于醒过来了。

After the doctors' emergency treatment, he finally regained consciousness.

Example Sentences for 抢救 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们虽然很勇敢地努力抢救, 却没能救回小孩的生命.

tā mén suī rán hěn yǒng gǎn dì nǔ lì qiāng jiù, , què méi néng jiù huí xiǎo hái de shēng.

Despite their valiant efforts, they were unable to save the child's life.
2
他们带着抢救出来的物品爬上岩石。

tā mén dài zháo qiāng jiù chū lái de wù pǐn pá shàng yán shí。

They climbed up on the rock with their salvage.
3
抢救者把孩子从河里救上来, 给她做人工呼吸.

qiāng jiù zhě bǎ hái zǐ cóng hé lǐ jiù shàng lái, , gěi tā zuò rén gōng hū.

Rescuers pulled the child from the river, and she was given artificial respiration.

Cultural Notes for 抢救

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 抢救 is often linked to communal responsibility, where people are expected to help others in distress. This reflects the Confucian value of benevolence and mutual aid, prevalent during natural disasters or public health crises.

Frequently Asked Questions about 抢救

While it primarily refers to urgent rescues, it can also describe situations where immediate action is needed, like saving a project or situation from failure.