Learn 助 in words for helping, being saved and assisting. Connect each reading to a complete word and situation.

The idea

助 has seven strokes; follow the linked diagram. 助ける（たすける） means to help someone, while 助かる（たすかる） means to be saved or helped. 助手（じょしゅ） means assistant.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
助けるたすけるI helped my friend.
助かるたすかるYour help saved me.
助手じょしゅThe professor’s assistant prepared the materials.

Examples

  • 私わたしは友達ともだちを助たすけました。I helped my friend.
  • 私わたしを助たすけてください。Please help me.
  • あなたのおかげで助たすかりました。Your help saved me.
  • 先生せんせいの助手じょしゅが資料しりょうを準備じゅんびしました。The professor’s assistant prepared the materials.
  • 助たすけ合あって仕事しごとを終おえました。We helped each other and finished the work.
  • 子こどもが無事ぶじに助たすかりました。The child was rescued safely.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

助ける takes the person helped with を; 助かる describes the person who benefits or is saved. The reading じょ in 助手 differs from たす in the verbs.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 助ける in hiragana.

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    たすける

    助ける is たすける: it means to help someone, as in helping a friend.

  2. Write the reading of 助手 in hiragana.

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    じょしゅ

    助手 is じょしゅ: an assistant helps someone with their work.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿手（じょしゅ）［助／動］.

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    助

    助 completes 助手（じょしゅ）, meaning assistant; 動 would make a different word.

Use it today

Write 助 using the stroke diagram. Cover the table, read 助ける and 助手 aloud, then make a sentence using one.