‘报警’ literally means ‘report + alarm’ and functions as a verb meaning ‘to call the police’ or ‘to report an emergency to authorities.’ The first character 报 (bào) means ‘to report’ or ‘to inform,’ while 警 (jǐng) refers to ‘police’ or ‘alarm,’ derived from the broader concept of ‘warning’ or ‘security.’ Together, they form a compound verb indicating the act of alerting law enforcement—most commonly by dialing 110 in China or using emergency apps.

This term is used in urgent or serious situations: crimes in progress, accidents, fires, medical emergencies requiring police coordination, or suspicious activities. It carries a formal, official tone and implies immediate action is needed. Unlike casual phrases like ‘找警察’ (to look for a policeman), ‘报警’ specifically denotes initiating an official response. It’s not used for minor inconveniences or non-emergencies, and misuse may cause unnecessary resource deployment.