Ambulance
AM-byuh-luhns /ˈæmbjələns/
Neutral Neutral
What it really means
The emergency vehicle that takes seriously ill or injured people to hospital. Call 999 to request one — but only for genuine emergencies. It is not a free taxi to hospital; for non-urgent trips, make your own way.
Chinese explanation
救护车：把重病或重伤者送往医院的急救车辆。拨打999呼叫——但仅限真正的紧急情况。它不是去医院的免费出租车，非紧急情况请自行前往。
Example conversation
A: Should I call an ambulance for my sprained wrist?
B: No — that's not an emergency. Get someone to drive you, or go to the minor injuries unit.
A：我手腕扭伤了，要叫救护车吗？
B：不用——那不算急症。让人开车送你，或者去轻伤处理中心。
What you could say back
No spoken reply needed for this one.
Related phrases
Official sources
Rules and amounts change — confirm important details with the official source.
Go deeper
All Healthcare & NHS
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake