jǐngchá: 警察 - Police, Police Officer

• Keywords: 警察, jingcha, Chinese police, police officer in Chinese, how to say police in Chinese, 公安, gongan, public security China, call the police Chinese, 报警, baojing, HSK 3 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 警察 (jǐngchá), meaning “police” or “police officer.” This comprehensive guide breaks down the characters, explores the cultural role of the police in China, and provides 10 practical example sentences. Discover the difference between 警察 (jǐngchá) and 公安 (gōng'ān) and learn how to use the term correctly in everyday conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jǐngchá
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A police officer; the police force.
• In a Nutshell: 警察 (jǐngchá) is the most common and direct word for “police” in Mandarin Chinese. It refers to both the individual officer and the police as an institution, similar to how “police” is used in English. It's a neutral term you can use in almost any situation when talking about law enforcement.

• 警 (jǐng): This character means “to warn,” “to be alert,” or “to guard against.” It's composed of 敬 (jìng, “respect/to be cautious”) and a variant of 言 (yán, “speech/words”). So, it signifies giving a cautious warning.
• 察 (chá): This character means “to examine,” “to inspect,” or “to observe.” It shows a roof (宀) over a character representing a ritual or sacrifice (祭), suggesting a careful, solemn observation.
• Together, 警察 (jǐngchá) literally means “the warning inspectors” or “those who are alert and observe.” This combination perfectly captures the dual roles of the police: preventing crime through vigilance and investigating incidents through careful observation.

The role and perception of the 警察 (jǐngchá) in China have unique cultural dimensions. While their function is law enforcement, similar to Western police, they are often seen as a direct and visible arm of the state and the Communist Party. The official name for the police force is 公安 (gōng'ān), which translates to “Public Security,” highlighting a broader mandate that includes maintaining social order and stability, not just fighting crime. For many Chinese citizens, especially older generations and children, the police are figures of authority and respect. The term 警察叔叔 (jǐngchá shūshu), or “Uncle Policeman,” is a common and affectionate way for children to refer to male officers, fostering a sense of trust and protection from a young age. However, like in any country, public perception can be complex and varies based on personal experience and location. The police embody state authority, and interactions with them are typically formal. This contrasts with some Western community policing models that aim for a more casual, service-oriented relationship. In China, the emphasis is more on maintaining public order and security (公安 - gōng'ān) for the collective, which is a core value in Chinese society.

警察 (jǐngchá) is the standard, everyday term. You'll hear it on the news, in movies, and use it in daily conversations.

• Referring to an Officer: You can point and say, “那是一个警察” (Nà shì yī ge jǐngchá) - “That is a police officer.”
• Calling for Help: The action of calling the police is 报警 (bàojǐng), which literally means “to report to the police.” You would say “我要报警” (Wǒ yào bàojǐng) - “I want to call the police.” You wouldn't say “我要警察” (Wǒ yào jǐngchá).
• Types of Police: Like in English, there are specific terms. The most common is 交警 (jiāojǐng) for “traffic police.”
• Formality: In formal contexts or official documents, you might see the term 民警 (mínjǐng), meaning “the people's police,” which has a slightly more formal and ideological tone. However, in speaking, 警察 is far more common.

• Example 1:
  • 如果你看到小偷，你应该马上叫警察。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ kàndào xiǎotōu, nǐ yīnggāi mǎshàng jiào jǐngchá.
  • English: If you see a thief, you should call the police immediately.
  • Analysis: This shows the common structure for advising someone to contact the police. “叫警察 (jiào jǐngchá)” is a colloquial way of saying “call the police,” similar to “报警 (bàojǐng)”.
• Example 2:
  • 街角站着两个警察在指挥交通。
  • Pinyin: Jiējiǎo zhànzhe liǎng ge jǐngchá zài zhǐhuī jiāotōng.
  • English: There are two police officers standing on the street corner directing traffic.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses a measure word for people, “个 (ge),” with 警察. Note that these officers are likely traffic police (交警), but 警察 is a perfectly acceptable general term.
• Example 3:
  • 他的梦想是成为一名勇敢的警察。
  • Pinyin: Tā de mèngxiǎng shì chéngwéi yī míng yǒnggǎn de jǐngchá.
  • English: His dream is to become a brave police officer.
  • Analysis: “一名 (yī míng)” is a more formal measure word often used for professions, adding a sense of respect.
• Example 4:
  • 钱包丢了以后，我去了警察局报案。
  • Pinyin: Qiánbāo diū le yǐhòu, wǒ qù le jǐngchájú bào'àn.
  • English: After I lost my wallet, I went to the police station to file a report.
  • Analysis: This example introduces the compound word 警察局 (jǐngchájú), meaning “police station” or “police bureau.”
• Example 5:
  • 小孩子看到警察叔叔，就觉得很安全。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎo háizi kàndào jǐngchá shūshu, jiù juéde hěn ānquán.
  • English: When little kids see “Uncle Policeman,” they feel very safe.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the cultural term 警察叔叔 (jǐngchá shūshu), showing the respectful and familiar way children are taught to view the police.
• Example 6:
  • 警察要求我出示我的护照。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá yāoqiú wǒ chūshì wǒ de hùzhào.
  • English: The police officer asked me to show my passport.
  • Analysis: A very practical sentence for foreigners in China. The interaction is direct and authoritative.
• Example 7:
  • 这部电影是关于一个卧底警察的故事。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng shì guānyú yī ge wòdǐ jǐngchá de gùshi.
  • English: This movie is a story about an undercover police officer.
  • Analysis: Shows how 警察 is used in entertainment and media contexts. “卧底 (wòdǐ)” means “undercover.”
• Example 8:
  • 当警察是一份很辛苦但很光荣的工作。
  • Pinyin: Dāng jǐngchá shì yī fèn hěn xīnkǔ dàn hěn guāngróng de gōngzuò.
  • English: Being a police officer is a very tough but very honorable job.
  • Analysis: “当 (dāng)” is the verb “to be” or “to work as” when referring to a profession. “一份 (yī fèn)” is a measure word for jobs.
• Example 9:
  • 我需要警察的帮助，我的车被撞了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào jǐngchá de bāngzhù, wǒ de chē bèi zhuàng le.
  • English: I need the police's help, my car was hit.
  • Analysis: A clear and direct way to ask for assistance after an accident.
• Example 10:
  • 那个地区有很多警察在巡逻。
  • Pinyin: Nàge dìqū yǒu hěn duō jǐngchá zài xúnluó.
  • English: There are many police officers patrolling in that area.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the verb “巡逻 (xúnluó),” meaning “to patrol,” which is a common duty of a 警察.

• 警察 (jǐngchá) vs. 公安 (gōng'ān): This is the most common point of confusion.
  • 警察 (jǐngchá): Refers to the officer/profession. It's the person. You would say “He is a 警察”.
  • 公安 (gōng'ān): Refers to the “Public Security” bureau/system as a whole. It's the organization. The police car will have “公安” written on the side.
  • In casual speech, people sometimes use them interchangeably, but the distinction is important. Think of it like “police officer” (警察) vs. “the Department of Public Safety” (公安).
• Common Mistake 1: Using it as a verb. You cannot say “我要警察” (Wǒ yào jǐngchá) to mean “I need to call the police.” This sounds like you are demanding a police officer be brought to you personally.
  • Correct: 我要报警 (Wǒ yào bàojǐng). - I want to report (a crime) to the police.
  • Correct: 我要叫警察 (Wǒ yào jiào jǐngchá). - I want to call the police.
• Common Mistake 2: Using the wrong measure word. While “个 (ge)” is always safe, using “名 (míng)” for professions shows more respect and is common in formal writing or speech. Example: “一位警察 (yī wèi jǐngchá)” or “一名警察 (yī míng jǐngchá)” sounds more respectful than “一个警察 (yī ge jǐngchá)”.

• 公安 (gōng'ān) - Public Security. The official name of the police force and ministry in China, representing the broader system.
• 报警 (bàojǐng) - To report to the police; to sound an alarm. This is the verb you use when you need to call the police.
• 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ) - The local police station or police post. This is the neighborhood-level station where you'd go to handle minor issues or registrations.
• 警察局 (jǐngchájú) - The police bureau. A larger, more central police headquarters, usually at the district or city level.
• 交警 (jiāojǐng) - A contraction of 交通警察 (jiāotōng jǐngchá), meaning “traffic police.”
• 民警 (mínjǐng) - A contraction of 人民警察 (rénmín jǐngchá), meaning “People's Police.” A formal and official title.
• 警察叔叔 (jǐngchá shūshu) - “Uncle Policeman.” A friendly and respectful term used by or for children.
• 法律 (fǎlǜ) - Law. The system of rules that the police enforce.
• 犯罪 (fànzuì) - To commit a crime. The act that necessitates police involvement.
• 安全 (ānquán) - Safety; security. The state that the police are tasked with maintaining.