救济 (jiù jì) is a formal verb meaning 'to relieve (someone’s hardship)' or 'to provide aid,' especially in situations of poverty, disaster, illness, or emergency. The first character 救 (jiù) means 'to save' or 'to rescue,' while the second character 济 (jì) means 'to help' or 'to assist'—together they emphasize timely, compassionate support for those in dire need. It often appears in official, institutional, or humanitarian contexts, such as government relief programs, NGO initiatives, or medical assistance.

This word carries a tone of urgency and social responsibility. Unlike casual help (e.g., 帮忙), 救济 implies that the recipient faces serious difficulty and cannot cope independently. It frequently collocates with nouns like 灾民 (disaster victims), 贫困户 (impoverished households), or 病人 (patients). While it can be used transitively ('to relieve someone'), it’s also common in passive or abstract constructions, such as 接受救济 (to receive aid) or 提供救济 (to provide relief).