huǒjǐng: 火警 - Fire Alarm, Fire Alert

• Keywords: 火警, huojing, Chinese for fire alarm, fire alert in Chinese, how to say fire in Chinese, emergency services China, fire department China, call 119, 火灾, 消防车, Mandarin emergency words.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 火警 (huǒjǐng), meaning “fire alarm” or “fire alert.” This guide breaks down 火警, explaining how to use it in emergencies, understand public safety announcements in China, and differentiate it from the related term 火灾 (huǒzāi), which means “fire disaster.” Discover practical examples, cultural context, and key vocabulary for staying safe and communicating effectively in Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): huǒjǐng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: An alarm or alert that signals a fire.
• In a Nutshell: 火警 (huǒjǐng) is the direct Chinese word for “fire alarm.” It's a compound noun combining “fire” (火) and “alert” (警). You'll hear this word shouted in an emergency, see it on signs for alarm pull stations, and use it when calling for the fire department (by dialing 119 in mainland China). It specifically refers to the *alert* or the *alarm signal* itself, not the fire disaster.

• 火 (huǒ): This character is a pictograph of a dancing flame. It is the fundamental and most common character for “fire.”
• 警 (jǐng): This character means “to warn,” “to alert,” or is related to the police. It's composed of 敬 (jìng, “to be cautious”) and 言 (yán, “speech/words”), suggesting a cautious warning delivered verbally.
• Together, 火 (huǒ) + 警 (jǐng) literally translates to “fire alert,” creating a clear and unambiguous term for a fire alarm.

The term 火警 (huǒjǐng) is a critical piece of public safety vocabulary in China. While the concept of a fire alarm is universal, its context in China is shaped by high-density urban living. In sprawling apartment complexes and massive shopping malls, an effective and well-understood 火警 system is not just a convenience but a life-saving necessity. Unlike a culturally nuanced term like 关系 (guānxi), 火警 is direct and practical. The primary cultural point for a learner is to associate it immediately with the emergency fire number in mainland China: 119. In the West, one number (like 911 in the US or 999 in the UK) often covers all emergencies. In China, specific numbers are used:

• 119: Fire (火警 - huǒjǐng)
• 110: Police (报警 - bàojǐng)
• 120: Medical Emergency (急救 - jíjiù)

Public education campaigns frequently drill the association between hearing or needing to report a 火警 and dialing 119. Understanding this distinction is a crucial piece of cultural and practical knowledge for anyone living in or visiting China.

火警 is used in several key contexts, ranging from urgent emergencies to routine safety procedures.

• In an Emergency:
  • You would shout “火警!” or, more commonly, “着火了! (Zháohuǒ le! - It's on fire!)” to alert others.
  • When calling for help, you would tell the operator: “我要报火警 (Wǒ yào bào huǒjǐng)” - “I want to report a fire alarm.”
• On Public Signage:
  • You will see 火警 written on red alarm boxes on walls. These are often labeled “手动火警按钮 (shǒudòng huǒjǐng ànniǔ),” meaning “manual fire alarm button.”
  • The alarm bell itself is called a “火警铃 (huǒjǐng líng).”
• In Official Announcements:
  • During a fire drill (火警演习 - huǒjǐng yǎnxí) or a real evacuation, you will hear automated announcements in public places like subways, offices, and hotels using this term. For example: “请注意，这是火警信号，请立即疏散。” (Qǐng zhùyì, zhè shì huǒjǐng xìnhào, qǐng lìjí shūsàn.) - “Attention please, this is a fire alarm signal, please evacuate immediately.”

The term is neutral and has no informal/formal variation; its seriousness is determined entirely by the situation.

• Example 1:
  • 墙上有一个红色的火警按钮。
  • Pinyin: Qiáng shàng yǒu yīgè hóngsè de huǒjǐng ànniǔ.
  • English: There is a red fire alarm button on the wall.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the physical object. It's a common, practical sentence for identifying safety equipment.
• Example 2:
  • 你听见火警响了吗？我们得马上离开！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ tīngjiàn huǒjǐng xiǎng le ma? Wǒmen děi mǎshàng líkāi!
  • English: Did you hear the fire alarm ring? We have to leave immediately!
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 火警 to refer to the sound of the alarm in an urgent situation.
• Example 3:
  • 这只是一个火警演习，请不要惊慌。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǐshì yīgè huǒjǐng yǎnxí, qǐng bùyào jīnghuāng.
  • English: This is just a fire drill, please do not panic.
  • Analysis: This is a very common phrase used by staff or in announcements to reassure people during a safety drill.
• Example 4:
  • 我要报火警！我们大楼的五层着火了！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yào bào huǒjǐng! Wǒmen dàlóu de wǔ céng zháohuǒ le!
  • English: I want to report a fire! The fifth floor of our building is on fire!
  • Analysis: “报火警 (bào huǒjǐng)” is the set phrase for “to report a fire.” This is exactly what you would say when calling 119.
• Example 5:
  • 消防员在接到火警后五分钟内就赶到了现场。
  • Pinyin: Xiāofángyuán zài jiē dào huǒjǐng hòu wǔ fēnzhōng nèi jiù gǎndàole xiànchǎng.
  • English: The firefighters arrived at the scene within five minutes of receiving the fire alert.
  • Analysis: This sentence, typical of a news report, uses 火警 to mean the “fire alert” or “report” that the emergency services receive.
• Example 6:
  • 酒店的火警系统非常灵敏，抽烟可能会触发它。
  • Pinyin: Jiǔdiàn de huǒjǐng xìtǒng fēicháng língmǐn, chōuyān kěnéng huì chùfā tā.
  • English: The hotel's fire alarm system is very sensitive; smoking might trigger it.
  • Analysis: Here, 火警 is used as an adjective to describe a system (`火警系统` - fire alarm system).
• Example 7:
  • 突然，刺耳的火警声划破了深夜的宁静。
  • Pinyin: Túrán, cì'ěr de huǒjǐng shēng huàpòle shēnyè de níngjìng.
  • English: Suddenly, the piercing sound of the fire alarm broke the silence of the night.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a more descriptive, literary use of the term, focusing on the sound (`火警声` - fire alarm sound).
• Example 8:
  • 错误警报：原来是有人恶作剧按了火警。
  • Pinyin: Cuòwù jǐngbào: yuánlái shì yǒurén èzuòjù ànle huǒjǐng.
  • English: False alarm: it turned out someone pressed the fire alarm as a prank.
  • Analysis: This shows the term in the context of a false alarm.
• Example 9:
  • 安装火警探测器是法律规定。
  • Pinyin: Ānzhuāng huǒjǐng tàncèqì shì fǎlǜ guīdìng.
  • English: It is required by law to install fire alarm detectors.
  • Analysis: A formal sentence discussing legal or safety regulations.
• Example 10:
  • 在中国，火警电话是119。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, huǒjǐng diànhuà shì yāoyāojiǔ.
  • English: In China, the fire emergency number is 119.
  • Analysis: This provides a simple, direct, and critically important piece of information for any foreigner in China.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 火警 (huǒjǐng) with 火灾 (huǒzāi).

• 火警 (huǒjǐng): The ALARM. This is the signal, the alert, the warning system, or the report of a fire. It signals the *possibility* or *start* of a fire.
• 火灾 (huǒzāi): The DISASTER. This is the actual event of a destructive fire. It's the fire itself as an incident.

Think of it this way: The 火警 (huǒjǐng) is designed to prevent a small fire from becoming a big 火灾 (huǒzāi).

• Incorrect: 昨天我们学校有了一个大火警。 (Zuótiān wǒmen xuéxiào yǒule yīgè dà huǒjǐng.)
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds like the school had a “big fire alarm,” which is awkward. You are trying to describe the event, not the alarm.
  • Correct: 昨天我们学校发生了一场大火灾。 (Zuótiān wǒmen xuéxiào fāshēngle yīchǎng dà huǒzāi.) - “Yesterday a big fire broke out at our school.”
• Incorrect: 快跑，这里有火灾！ (Kuài pǎo, zhèlǐ yǒu huǒzāi!)
  • Why it's wrong: While technically not incorrect if there's a huge disaster, in the heat of the moment, Chinese speakers are more likely to shout something more immediate and actionable.
  • More Natural: 快跑，着火了！ (Kuài pǎo, zháohuǒ le!) - “Run, it's on fire!” or “快听，是火警！” (Kuài tīng, shì huǒjǐng!) - “Listen, it's the fire alarm!”

• 火灾 (huǒzāi) - The fire disaster/incident itself. The event that a `火警` warns you about.
• 消防员 (xiāofángyuán) - Firefighter. The professional who responds to a `火警`.
• 消防车 (xiāofángchē) - Fire truck. The vehicle that arrives after a `火警` is reported.
• 报警 (bàojǐng) - A broader term meaning “to report to the police” or “to sound an alarm.” Reporting a fire (`报火警`) is a specific type of `报警`.
• 着火 (zháohuǒ) - A verb meaning “to catch fire” or “to be on fire.” This describes the state of burning.
• 灭火器 (mièhuǒqì) - Fire extinguisher. The device used to put out a small fire.
• 119 (yāoyāojiǔ) - The emergency phone number for fire (`火警`) in mainland China.
• 安全出口 (ānquán chūkǒu) - Emergency Exit. The sign you should look for when you hear a `火警`.
• 演习 (yǎnxí) - A drill or exercise. Often combined as `火警演习` (fire drill).
• 警察 (jǐngchá) - Police. Though they share the character `警`, they are a different service. You call 110 for police, not 119.