手伝う・手つだう|てつだうtetsudau[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
手伝う手伝う is the most common written form and is written with kanji and kana. For beginners, it is the default form to use.
手つだう手つだう is a less common written variant of 手伝う, also written with kanji and kana. Beginners should generally choose 手伝う instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto help; to assist; to aid
- godan verb, transitive verbto contribute to; to be a factor in
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 手伝う（てつだう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 手伝います（てつだいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 手伝わない（てつだわない） |
| polite (masen) | 手伝いません（てつだいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 手伝わず・手伝わぬ（てつだわず・てつだわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 手伝った（てつだった） |
| polite (mashita) | 手伝いました（てつだいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 手伝わなかった（てつだわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 手伝いませんでした（てつだいませんでした） |
| Te form | 手伝って（てつだって） |
| Potential | 手伝える（てつだえる） |
| Passive | 手伝われる（てつだわれる） |
| Causative | 手伝わせる（てつだわせる） |
| Causative passive | 手伝わせられる・手伝わされる（てつだわせられる・てつだわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 手伝えば（てつだえば） |
| tara | 手伝ったら（てつだったら） |
| Volitional | 手伝おう（てつだおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 手伝いましょう（てつだいましょう） |
| Imperative | 手伝え（てつだえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym助けるたすけるNeutralBroader than 「手伝う」: covers rescuing someone from danger or getting them out of trouble, as in 「人を助ける」; 「手伝う」 is about sharing a task alongside someone.
- Synonym手助けてだすけNeutralNoun for lending a hand, as in 「ちょっとした手助け」; close to 「手伝い」.
- Synonym助力じょりょくWrittenWritten word for lending support, as in 「ご助力を賜る」; often used when asking for help.
- SynonymアシストCasualColloquial loanword for assistance or a soccer assist, as in 「電動アシスト自転車」.
- Synonym援助えんじょWrittenWritten word for giving money, goods, or technical help to people or groups in need, as in 「経済援助」.
- Synonym支援しえんWrittenWritten word for supporting someone with help, whether ongoing or one-off, as in 「被災地支援」「資金支援」.
- SynonymヘルプCasualColloquial loanword for help or calling for help, as in 「ヘルプを頼む」.
- Related加勢かせいNeutralJoining one side to back them up, as in 「味方に加勢する」.
- Related補佐ほさFormalFormal term for assisting someone at their side in their duties, or the person in that role, as in 「社長補佐」; 「手伝う」 is everyday helping with work.
- Related力添えちからぞえWrittenWritten word for giving help or support, as in 「お力添えをお願いします」.
- Related介添えかいぞえWrittenWritten word for staying at someone's side to care for them, as in 「花嫁の介添え」.
- Related応援おうえんNeutralCheering someone on or sending reinforcements, as in 「試合を応援する」.
- Related救援きゅうえんWrittenWritten word for rescue in an emergency, as in 「救援物資」.
- Related救済きゅうさいWrittenWritten word for relieving people hit by disaster or suffering, also religious salvation, as in 「被害者救済」.
- Related世話せわNeutralCaring for someone and looking after their needs, as in 「子供の世話をする」.
- Related救助きゅうじょWrittenWritten word for rescuing people in danger, as in 「人命救助」.
- Related扶助ふじょFormalFormal term for supporting and providing for someone, as in 「相互扶助」; also public assistance like 「生活扶助」.
- Related介助かいじょWrittenWritten word for helping the elderly or ill with daily activities, as in 「食事介助」.
- Related付き添いつきそいNeutralAccompanying someone to look after them, as in 「病院の付き添い」.
- Related賛助さんじょFormalFormal term for sponsoring or backing a cause, as in 「賛助会員」.
- RelatedサービスCasualColloquial loanword for service, customer care, or a free extra, as in 「サービスでつける」; 「手伝う」 is helping with actual work.
- Related助勢じょせいWrittenWritten word for backing up or reinforcing a side; not common — say 「加勢」 or 「応援」 in daily speech.
- Related幇助ほうじょFormalFormal term for aiding a crime, as in 「自殺幇助」; carries negative legal connotations.
- Antonym妨げるさまたげるWrittenWritten antonym: to hinder or obstruct, as in 「進行を妨げる」.
- Antonym邪魔するNeutralAntonym: disturbing or getting in someone's way, as in 「仕事を邪魔する」.
For helping with a task, 「手伝う」 is the default. Use 「助ける」 to rescue or get someone out of trouble, 「手助け」 for the noun, 「助力」 or 「力添え」 in polite requests, 「援助」 or 「支援」 for aid and support, 「応援」 for cheering on, 「世話」 for looking after someone, and 「邪魔する」 for getting in the way.
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
