‘急救’ (jí jiù) literally means ‘urgent rescue’ — ‘急’ (jí) means ‘urgent’ or ‘immediate’, and ‘救’ (jiù) means ‘to save’ or ‘to rescue’. Together, they form the standard Chinese term for ‘first aid’: immediate care given to someone who is injured or suddenly ill before professional medical help arrives. It emphasizes speed and life-saving action, not long-term treatment.

This word is commonly used in medical contexts, public safety announcements, health education, and emergency training. You’ll see it on signs (e.g., 急救箱 ‘first-aid kit’), course titles (e.g., 急救培训 ‘first-aid training’), and news reports about accidents or medical emergencies. While it can refer to the act, the knowledge, or the system of emergency response, it always implies immediacy and critical need — never routine or preventive care.