Karinoya Learning Room

Daily Life Lessons · Hospitals

How to Call an Ambulance

Goal of this lesson

Be able to call 119 in a sudden illness or injury, say that it is an emergency (救急です), answer questions such as the address and symptoms, and get ready before the ambulance arrives.

Explanation

When a sudden illness or injury is life-threatening, call 119 for an ambulance. Using an ambulance is free of charge.

On the phone, first say "Kyukyu desu" (救急です: "It's a medical emergency"). Then give: (1) the address (starting from the city/ward/town name; if you do not know it, a nearby landmark), (2) who is ill or hurt and what happened, (3) whether the person is conscious and breathing, (4) the person's age, and (5) your name and phone number. After the call, the fire department may call you back to confirm details.

Before the ambulance arrives, prepare your My Number health insurance card (マイナ保険証) (or eligibility certificate (資格確認書)), money, shoes, and the medicines you usually take or your medication notebook (お薬手帳). If someone else is with you, ask them to go outside and guide the ambulance when they hear the siren.

Even if you cannot speak Japanese, many fire departments can respond in foreign languages using telephone interpreters. If you are not sure whether to call an ambulance, in areas where the service is available you can call #7119 for advice.

Read in Easy Japanese (yasashii nihongo)

急（きゅう）な 病気や けがで あぶない ときは、119に 電話します。救急車（きゅうきゅうしゃ）は 無料です。

1. 「救急（きゅうきゅう）です」と 言います。 2. 住所を 言います。わからない ときは、近くの 大きな 建物などを 言います。 3. だれが、どう なったかを 言います。 4. 年（とし）と、あなたの 名前・電話番号を 言います。

救急車が 来るまでに： - マイナ保険証か 資格確認書 - お金、くつ - 飲んでいる 薬、お薬手帳

日本語が 話せなくても、119に 電話して ください。通訳（つうやく）が 使える ところが 多いです。

Check quiz

Q1

What number do you call for an ambulance?

  1. 110
  2. 119
  3. 171
  4. 0120
AnswerB. 119

119 is the number for fires and ambulances. 110 is the police, and 171 is the Disaster Emergency Message Dial (災害用伝言ダイヤル).

Q2

What do you say first when you call 119?

  1. "Kyukyu desu" (救急です: It's a medical emergency)
  2. "Konnichiwa" (Hello)
  3. The name of a hospital
  4. Today's weather
AnswerA. "Kyukyu desu" (救急です: It's a medical emergency)

You will be asked "Kaji desu ka, kyukyu desu ka?" (Fire or ambulance?), so answer "Kyukyu desu."

Q3

What should you do if you do not know the address?

  1. Hang up
  2. Say nothing
  3. Tell them a nearby landmark (such as a large building or an intersection)
  4. Say any address
AnswerC. Tell them a nearby landmark (such as a large building or an intersection)

Tell them a nearby landmark. You can also check where you are with a map app on your mobile phone.

Q4

What if you cannot speak Japanese?

  1. You must not call
  2. Call 110
  3. The only option is to call a taxi
  4. Call 119 (many fire departments can use telephone interpreters)
AnswerD. Call 119 (many fire departments can use telephone interpreters)

Many fire departments provide foreign-language support using a telephone interpreting center.

Q5

What is good to prepare before the ambulance arrives?

  1. Large luggage
  2. Your My Number health insurance card (or similar), money, shoes, medication notebook
  3. Nothing
  4. Your pet
AnswerB. Your My Number health insurance card (or similar), money, shoes, medication notebook

Prepare something that shows your insurance coverage, money, shoes, and the medicines you usually take or your medication notebook.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Does an ambulance cost money?

A. Using an ambulance is free. However, in some areas, if it is judged that the case was not urgent, you may be charged an additional fee (選定療養費) at the hospital you were taken to. When a life is at risk, do not hesitate to call 119.

Q. What if I am not sure whether to call an ambulance?

A. In areas where the service is available, you can call #7119 (Emergency Consultation Center / 救急安心センター) for advice. With the Fire and Disaster Management Agency's "Nationwide Emergency Consultation App (Q助 / Q-suke)", you can choose your symptoms to see a guide to how urgent the situation is.

Q. What if I cannot hear or have difficulty speaking?

A. The "NET119 Emergency Call System" (NET119緊急通報システム) lets you call 119 using text on a smartphone or similar device. To use it, you need to register in advance with the fire department or other office in your area.

Practice: answer the questions on this page

This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.

Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28

This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original