救う・済う|すくうsukuu[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
救う救う（すくう） is the commonest form and the recommended choice for beginners; use this mixed kanji-and-kana spelling when writing the word.
済う済う（すくう） is a rarely used mixed kanji-and-kana variant, so learners will seldom encounter it and should normally choose 救う（すくう） instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto rescue (someone); to save; to help (out of a difficulty); to relieve (from)
- godan verb, transitive verbto save (spiritually); to redeem (from sin); to deliver (from suffering, distress, etc.); to bring to salvation神だけがあなたを救える。↗Nothing but God can save you.
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 救う（すくう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 救います（すくいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 救わない（すくわない） |
| polite (masen) | 救いません（すくいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 救わず・救わぬ（すくわず・すくわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 救った（すくった） |
| polite (mashita) | 救いました（すくいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 救わなかった（すくわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 救いませんでした（すくいませんでした） |
| Te form | 救って（すくって） |
| Potential | 救える（すくえる） |
| Passive | 救われる（すくわれる） |
| Causative | 救わせる（すくわせる） |
| Causative passive | 救わせられる・救わされる（すくわせられる・すくわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 救えば（すくえば） |
| tara | 救ったら（すくったら） |
| Volitional | 救おう（すくおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 救いましょう（すくいましょう） |
| Imperative | 救え（すくえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym助けるたすけるNeutralThe everyday, most common word: to help or to save, with a very broad range (「人を助ける」); 「救う」 centers on freeing someone from danger or suffering.
- Synonym救助きゅうじょWrittenA Sino-Japanese noun for rescuing people in danger (「人命救助」); leans formal, typical of news reports.
- Synonym救出きゅうしゅつNeutralA noun for rescuing someone out of danger (「救出作戦」); used mostly in news reporting.
- Synonym助け出すたすけだすNeutralTo pull someone out of danger or a difficult situation (「火事から助け出す」); the focus is on the act of getting them out.
- Synonym救い出すすくいだすNeutralTo rescue someone out (「人質を救い出す」); close to 「助け出す」 in sense but slightly more written.
- Synonym救い上げるすくいあげるNeutralTo scoop someone up and rescue them from the water or a dangerous spot; narrow in use.
- Related救済きゅうさいNeutralRelief for people in hardship, or religious salvation (「被災者救済」); leans toward written prose.
- Related救援きゅうえんNeutralRescuing people in danger, and also sending people or supplies to help (「救援物資」「救援隊」).
Use 「救う」 to free someone from danger or suffering and 「助ける」 for everyday help. News reports of rescues favor 「救助」 and 「救出」; 「救済」 is for relieving hardship, 「救援」 for sending aid or rescue teams.
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
