Chinese Phrases for the Police and Lost Documents | Degree in China

Chinese Phrases for the Police and Lost Documents

Losing a passport is stressful but the process is clear: police report first, then embassy, then residence permit. These phrases help you explain the situation.

When you want to say中文PinyinEnglish
I want to report to the police我要报警wǒ yào bào jǐngI want to report to the police
I lost my passport我的护照丢了wǒ de hù zhào diū leMy passport is lost
My phone was stolen我的手机被偷了wǒ de shǒu jī bèi tōu leMy phone was stolen
Police station派出所pài chū suǒPolice station
File a police report报案bào ànFile a police report
I need a certificate我需要证明wǒ xū yào zhèng míngI need a certificate / proof
Residence permit居留许可jū liú xǔ kěResidence permit
International student office留学生办公室liú xué shēng bàn gōng shìInternational student office
What documents do I need?需要什么文件xū yào shén me wén jiànWhat documents do I need?
Emergency number紧急电话jǐn jí diàn huàEmergency number
If your passport is lost or stolen: go to the 派出所 (police station) for a 报案证明 (loss report), then your embassy for a new passport, then the PSB for a new 居留许可 (residence permit). Emergency numbers: 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire.

The exact order: police report, embassy, residence permit

If you lose your passport, the sequence matters. First, report it to the local police (报案) and get an official 报案证明 (police report). Second, take that to your embassy or consulate for a replacement travel document. Third, return to the entry-exit bureau (出入境) with the new document to re-issue your residence permit. Skip a step and the next one stalls.

Emergency numbers and embassy contacts

Police is 110, ambulance is 120, and fire is 119; all work from any phone and have some English support. Save your embassy’s China hotline before you need it, because consulates keep different hours and some require an online appointment for replacements.

Common mistake: panicking and skipping the police report. You cannot get an embassy replacement or re-issue your residence permit without the official 报案证明, so file it first, even for a small loss.

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Frequently asked questions

What do I do first if I lose my passport?
Go to the nearest police station (派出所) and get a loss report (报案证明). You need it for the embassy and the residence permit renewal.
Who helps with student visa matters?
Your university’s international student office (留学生办公室) is the first stop for residence permit and visa questions.
Are emergency numbers the same everywhere?
Police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119. These work across mainland China.