We present single-dish observations of HC\(_3\)N emission lines towards a sample of nearby gas-rich galaxies. HC\(_3\)N(\(J\)=2-1) was observed towards 21 galaxies with Effelsberg 100-m telescope, and it was detected in three galaxies: IC342, M66 and NGC660. HC\(_3\)N(\(J\)=24-23) was observed towards nine galaxies with Submillimeter Telescope and was detected in four galaxies: IC342, IC694, NGC1068 and NGC6946. This is the first measurements of HC\(_3\)N(\(J\)=2-1) reported in external galaxies. Comparing to previous studies, we got detections in both “HC\(_3\)N-luminous” and “HC\(_3\)N-poor” galaxies, which were previously classified in other work. For both transitions HC\(_3\)N was not detected in the starburst galaxy M82, which supports the scenario that HC\(_3\)N is easily destroyed in the Photo-Dissociated Regions (PDRs) induced by the intense starburst of M82.