yāo yāo líng: 110 - Police Emergency Number

• Keywords: 110 in China, China police number, emergency number China, dial 110, Chinese police, yāo yāo líng, 幺幺零, how to call police in China, bàojǐng, reporting a crime in China, public security.
• Summary: In mainland China, 110 (pronounced yāo yāo líng) is the official and universal emergency telephone number for the police. Similar to dialing 911 in the United States or 999 in the UK for police assistance, dialing 110 connects you to the local Public Security Bureau to report crimes, accidents, or any situation requiring immediate police intervention. Understanding this number, especially the unique pronunciation “yāo yāo líng,” is a critical piece of practical knowledge for anyone living in or traveling to China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yāo yāo líng
• Part of Speech: Noun (proper noun)
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: The national police emergency telephone number in the People's Republic of China.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 110 as China's “911 for cops.” It's the single most important number to know for any police-related emergency. The pronunciation is key: you must say “yāo yāo líng” instead of “yī yī líng.” This is a universal rule in China for sequences of numbers to avoid confusion over the phone. If you're in trouble and need the police, this is the number you call.

While 110 is a numeral, its spoken form in Chinese is crucial. It's not made of traditional characters but of spoken digits.

• 1 (幺 yāo): In standard counting, “one” is `一 (yī)`. However, in phone numbers, room numbers, and other strings of digits, `一 (yī)` is pronounced `yāo`. This is a critical rule to prevent auditory confusion with the number `七 (qī)`, which means “seven” and sounds very similar to `一 (yī)`, especially over a poor-quality phone line.
• 0 (零 líng): This is the standard word and pronunciation for the number “zero”.

These spoken digits combine to form yāo yāo líng, the clear, unambiguous way to communicate “1-1-0” in an emergency context, ensuring there is no misunderstanding when you need help the most.

• The State's Helping Hand: In China, 110 is more than just a phone number; it's a symbol of the state's role in maintaining `社会稳定 (shèhuì wěndìng)` - social stability and order. It's the primary, citizen-facing arm of the Public Security Bureau (`公安局 gōng'ānjú`). The police are often seen not just as law enforcers but as general problem-solvers for a wide range of public disturbances.
• Comparison to 911 (USA): A key difference for Westerners to understand is the separation of emergency services in China.
  • In the US: 911 is an integrated system. You call one number for police, fire, or medical emergencies, and a dispatcher routes your call.
  • In China: Services are traditionally separate. You must call a specific number for each need:
    • 110 (yāo yāo líng): Police
    • 119 (yāo yāo jiǔ): Fire Department
    • 120 (yāo èr líng): Ambulance / Medical Emergency

While there is growing integration and a 110 operator can help contact other services, knowing the direct number is faster and more effective. Dialing the wrong number can cause critical delays.

You should dial 110 for any situation that requires immediate police presence. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Reporting Crimes: Theft, robbery, assault, scams, etc.
• Traffic Accidents: Especially those involving injuries or major disputes.
• Public Disturbances: Fights, loud arguments escalating, or other threats to public order.
• Finding Lost People: Particularly children or the elderly.
• Reporting Suspicious Activity: If you see something that seems dangerous or illegal.

It is a serious offense to misuse the 110 line with prank calls, and doing so can result in fines or detention. For non-emergency administrative matters (like visa questions or registering your address), you should visit the local police station, known as a `派出所 (pàichūsuǒ)`.

• Example 1:
  • 我的钱包被偷了，我得马上打110。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de qiánbāo bèi tōu le, wǒ děi mǎshàng dǎ yāo yāo líng.
  • English: My wallet was stolen, I have to call 110 right away.
  • Analysis: A classic and direct use case. `打 (dǎ)` means “to hit,” but in this context, it means “to dial” a phone number.
• Example 2:
  • 如果你看到交通事故，请立即拨打110。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ kàndào jiāotōng shìgù, qǐng lìjí bōdǎ yāo yāo líng.
  • English: If you see a traffic accident, please dial 110 immediately.
  • Analysis: `拨打 (bōdǎ)` is a more formal verb for “to dial” than `打 (dǎ)`. This sentence structure is common in public service announcements.
• Example 3:
  • 别害怕，我已经打110了，警察很快就到。
  • Pinyin: Bié hàipà, wǒ yǐjīng dǎ yāo yāo líng le, jǐngchá hěn kuài jiù dào.
  • English: Don't be scared, I've already called 110, the police will be here soon.
  • Analysis: The use of `了 (le)` indicates the action of calling is complete. This is a reassuring phrase to use in a stressful situation.
• Example 4:
  • 邻居在打架，声音太大了，有人打了110。
  • Pinyin: Línjū zài dǎjià, shēngyīn tài dà le, yǒurén dǎ le yāo yāo líng.
  • English: The neighbors are fighting, it's too loud, someone called 110.
  • Analysis: This shows how 110 is used for public disturbances, not just personal emergencies.
• Example 5:
  • 孩子，记住，遇到危险就打110找警察叔叔。
  • Pinyin: Háizi, jìzhù, yùdào wēixiǎn jiù dǎ yāo yāo líng zhǎo jǐngchá shūshu.
  • English: Child, remember, if you encounter danger, just call 110 and find a police “uncle”.
  • Analysis: `警察叔叔 (jǐngchá shūshu)` or “Police Uncle” is a common and friendly term used to teach children about the police.
• Example 6:
  • 他因为报假警而被110警告了。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi bào jiǎ jǐng ér bèi yāo yāo líng jǐnggào le.
  • English: He was warned by the 110 service because he made a false police report.
  • Analysis: Here, 110 is used to represent the police institution itself. `报假警 (bào jiǎ jǐng)` means “to file a false police report.”
• Example 7:
  • 你确定要打110吗？这只是个小误会。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ quèdìng yào dǎ yāo yāo líng ma? Zhè zhǐshì ge xiǎo wùhuì.
  • English: Are you sure you want to call 110? This is just a small misunderstanding.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the judgment required before calling. It implies that 110 is for serious matters, not minor disputes.
• Example 8:
  • 电话里，接线员问我：“你现在的位置是？需要110派人过来吗？”
  • Pinyin: Diànhuà lǐ, jiēxiànyuán wèn wǒ: “Nǐ xiànzài de wèizhì shì? Xūyào yāo yāo líng pài rén guòlái ma?”
  • English: On the phone, the operator asked me: “What is your current location? Do you need 110 to dispatch someone?”
  • Analysis: `接线员 (jiēxiànyuán)` is the operator/dispatcher. This gives a glimpse into the actual conversation when you call.
• Example 9:
  • 在中国，紧急求助电话是110，不是911。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, jǐnjí qiúzhù diànhuà shì yāo yāo líng, búshì jiǔ yāo yāo.
  • English: In China, the emergency help number is 110, not 911.
  • Analysis: A crucial sentence for any visitor. Note how “911” would also be read using `yāo` for one: `jiǔ yāo yāo`.
• Example 10:
  • 看到那个可疑的人后，他毫不犹豫地掏出手机打了110。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào nàge kěyí de rén hòu, tā háobù yóuyù de tāochū shǒujī dǎ le yāo yāo líng.
  • English: After seeing that suspicious person, he took out his phone and dialed 110 without hesitation.
  • Analysis: `毫不犹豫 (háobù yóuyù)` means “without any hesitation,” emphasizing the urgency and appropriateness of the action.

• Mistake 1: Pronouncing “1” as `yī` instead of `yāo`
  • Incorrect: `打 yī yī líng (dǎ yī yī líng)`
  • Correct: `打 yāo yāo líng (dǎ yāo yāo líng)`
  • Reason: As explained above, `yāo` is used for clarity in number sequences to avoid confusion with `qī` (seven). Using `yī` will mark you as a foreigner and might cause confusion in a critical moment.
• Mistake 2: Confusing the Emergency Numbers
  • English speakers are used to a single number like 911. A common, and potentially dangerous, mistake is to dial 110 for a medical emergency.
  • Remember this breakdown:
    • 110 (yāo yāo líng): 警察 (jǐngchá) - Police (Crime, Accidents, Disturbances)
    • 119 (yāo yāo jiǔ): 消防 (xiāofáng) - Fire Department (Fires, some rescue operations)
    • 120 (yāo èr líng): 救护车 (jiùhùchē) - Ambulance (Medical Emergencies)
  • Calling the wrong number will delay the response. Always try to call the correct, specific number for your situation.

• 报警 (bàojǐng) - Verb. “To report to the police” or “to sound an alarm.” This is the action you are taking when you dial 110.
• 警察 (jǐngchá) - Noun. Police officer; the people who will respond to a 110 call.
• 119 (yāo yāo jiǔ) - The fire emergency number in China. The “fire department” equivalent of 110.
• 120 (yāo èr líng) - The medical emergency (ambulance) number in China.
• 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ) - The local police station. You go here for non-emergency issues like registering your temporary residence.
• 救护车 (jiùhùchē) - Ambulance. The vehicle that is dispatched when you call 120.
• 紧急 (jǐnjí) - Adjective. Urgent, emergency. A 110 situation is an `紧急情况 (jǐnjí qíngkuàng)`.
• 危险 (wēixiǎn) - Adjective/Noun. Danger; dangerous. You call 110 when you are in a `危险` situation.
• 公安局 (gōng'ānjú) - Public Security Bureau (PSB). The government organ in charge of the police. 110 calls are routed to the local PSB.