助ける vs 手伝う
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 助ける
Listen to 手伝う
| 助ける | 手伝う |
|---|---|
ta-SU-ke-ru verb (transitive) | てつだう (tetsudau) verb (transitive) |
| to help; to assist; to rescue | to help/assist with tasks; to lend a hand |
How they differ
手伝う emphasizes cooperating on a task or doing part of someone's work (lending a hand); it usually refers to practical, shared effort and does not carry the rescue or life-saving sense that 助ける can have.
When to use each
When to use 助ける: Prefer 助ける when you mean general help or rescue, especially in contexts that may involve saving someone from danger.
When to use 手伝う: Prefer 手伝う when the help is about joining or assisting with a specific task, chore, or job rather than rescuing.
Side-by-side examples
- 彼は怪我をした私を助けてくれた。
(He helped/rescued me when I was injured.) - 彼は引っ越しを手伝ってくれた。
(He helped me with my move.)
Register & nuance: 手伝う is common and casual in everyday speech, while 助ける is neutral and used both in spoken and written contexts.
- See the full Word of the Day entry for 助ける
- See the Word of the Day entry for 手伝う
- Back to today's Japanese word