“To help” in Japanese is 手伝う (てつだう), pronounced tetsudau.
Pronunciation
The word has 4 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
To help with a task. 助ける is to help or rescue someone in trouble, as in 助けて (help!).
Example sentences
- 手伝いましょうか。てつだいましょうか。Shall I help?
- 母の料理を手伝いました。ははのりょうりをてつだいました。I helped my mother cook.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 手伝う. The rules are explained in Japanese verbs: the ます form.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary (plain) | 手伝う てつだう | help |
| Polite present | 手伝います てつだいます | help |
| Polite negative | 手伝いません てつだいません | don’t help |
| Polite past | 手伝いました てつだいました | past of “help” |
| Plain negative (ない) | 手伝わない てつだわない | don’t help (casual) |
| Plain past (た) | 手伝った てつだった | past of “help” (casual) |
| て-form | 手伝って てつだって | help and… / please help (+ください) |
| Want to (たい) | 手伝いたい てつだいたい | want to help |
Quick practice
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Related words: Everyday verbs
FAQ
How do you say to help in Japanese?
To help in Japanese is 手伝う (てつだう), pronounced “tetsudau”.
How do you write to help in Japanese?
It's written 手伝う with kanji, or てつだう in hiragana. Both are read tetsudau.
Is 手伝う on the JLPT?
Yes. 手伝う (tetsudau) is a common word at JLPT N4 level, so it's worth learning early.