助ける・援ける・救ける・扶ける・佐ける・佑ける・輔ける|たすけるtasukeru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
助ける助ける is the most common written form and the form beginners should use when they need to write this word.
援ける援ける is a rarely used written variant, so you will seldom encounter it. Beginners should use 助ける instead.
救ける救ける is a rarely used written variant, so you will seldom encounter it. Beginners should use 助ける instead.
扶ける扶ける is a rarely used written variant, so you will seldom encounter it. Beginners should use 助ける instead.
佐ける佐ける is a rarely used written variant, so you will seldom encounter it. Beginners should use 助ける instead.
佑ける佑ける is a rarely used written variant, so you will seldom encounter it. Beginners should use 助ける instead.
輔ける輔ける is a rarely used written variant, so you will seldom encounter it. Beginners should use 助ける instead.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto save; to rescue; to spare
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto help; to assist
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto support (financially); to contribute (to); to provide aid
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto facilitate; to stimulate; to promote; to contribute to
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 助ける（たすける） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 助けます（たすけます） |
| Negative (nai) | 助けない（たすけない） |
| polite (masen) | 助けません（たすけません） |
| classical zu / nu | 助けず・助けぬ（たすけず・たすけぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 助けた（たすけた） |
| polite (mashita) | 助けました（たすけました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 助けなかった（たすけなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 助けませんでした（たすけませんでした） |
| Te form | 助けて（たすけて） |
| Potential | 助けられる（たすけられる） |
| Passive | 助けられる（たすけられる） |
| Causative | 助けさせる（たすけさせる） |
| Causative passive | 助けさせられる（たすけさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 助ければ（たすければ） |
| tara | 助けたら（たすけたら） |
| Volitional | 助けよう（たすけよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 助けましょう（たすけましょう） |
| Imperative | 助けろ（たすけろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
命が助かる
命を助ける
助かる focuses on the subject being saved or spared (as in 命が助かる), without mentioning who saves it; 助ける focuses on the agent saving someone or something (as in 命を助ける).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym救助きゅうじょNeutralRescuing people who are in danger, as in 「人命救助」; the emphasis is on emergency rescue.
- Synonym救援きゅうえんNeutralRescue of disaster victims or people in distress, usually on a large scale, as in 「救援物資」.
- Synonym救うすくうNeutralSaving someone from danger or hardship, and also used for spiritual salvation; 「助ける」 can additionally mean everyday helping.
- Synonym救出きゅうしゅつNeutralA Sino-Japanese noun for rescue, frequent in news reports, as in 「人質を救出」.
- Synonym手伝うてつだうNeutralHelping someone with their task; the everyday word for it, while 「助ける」 can also mean saving a life.
- Synonym救い出すすくいだすNeutralGetting someone out of a dangerous place or predicament; the stress is on the person getting free.
- Synonym助け出すたすけだすNeutralRescuing someone out of danger or trouble, close to 「救い出す」; 「助ける」 itself is not limited to getting people out.
- Related手助けてだすけNeutralLending a hand with tasks big or small, as in 「復興を手助けする」; very common in speech.
- Related助力じょりょくWrittenWritten language for lending a hand or support, as in 「ご助力を賜る」.
- Related力添えちからぞえNeutralOffering one's help, mostly in requests or thanks, as in 「お力添えをお願いします」.
- RelatedアシストNeutralA loanword for helping or backing someone up; in soccer it refers to an assist, the final pass before a goal.
- Relatedお手伝いおてつだいNeutralHelping with housework or other work; also means a hired maid or helper; common in speech.
- Related介添えかいぞえNeutralAttending to and caring for someone at their side, such as a sick person; also a bridesmaid, best man or second.
- Related援助えんじょNeutralAid in money, goods or technology, as in 「経済援助」 and 「技術援助」; typically between organizations or countries.
- Related支援しえんNeutralSupport or backing over a wide range of cases, as in 「支援物資」 and 「学習支援」.
- Related助成じょせいWrittenA written term for funding that governments or public bodies give to further a project, as in 「助成金」.
- Related加勢かせいNeutralJoining one side to help it, as in a fight or a contest; you add your strength to that side.
- Related資するしするWrittenWritten language for contributing to something, as in 「発展に資する」; the subject is usually a thing, not a person.
- Related役立つやくだつNeutralBeing useful or serving a purpose; the subject is usually a thing, though people work too, as in 「社会に役立つ人材」, while 「助ける」 usually takes a person.
- RelatedサービスNeutralService, discounts or free extras; it overlaps with 「助ける」 only in the sense of doing things for people.
- Related助勢じょせいWrittenWritten and rare: backing up or reinforcing a side, as in lending support to a cause.
- Related扶翼ふよくWrittenAn archaic written word for supporting or standing by someone, especially a superior; rarely seen today.
- Related幇助ほうじょWrittenA written legal term for aiding and abetting, as in 「自殺幇助」; carries a negative nuance.
「助ける」 works for both helping and rescuing. To help with someone's work, say 「手伝う」. To get someone out of danger, use 「救う」 or 「救助」. For aid between organizations or countries, use 「援助」 or 「支援」. 「救援」 and 「救出」 fit large-scale or newsworthy rescues, 「助成」 is funding from governments, and 「幇助」 is the legal term for abetting a crime.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
