协助

• Pinyin: xié zhù
• Hanzi breakdown: 协 = 十 (ten) + 办 (handle), meaning to cooperate; 助 = 且 (moreover) + 力 (strength), meaning to help

Meaning

To assist; to help; assistance. To provide support or help in completing a task.

More formal than 帮助, often used in official or professional contexts. Implies working together toward a goal, with one party supporting another. Common collocations: 协助调查 (assist in investigation), 协助工作 (assist with work).

Examples

1. 警方请求市民协助调查这起案件。 The police are asking citizens to assist in the investigation of this case.
2. 感谢你协助我们完成了这个项目。 Thank you for assisting us in completing this project.
3. 他被派去协助新同事熟悉工作流程。 He was assigned to help new colleagues get familiar with the work process.

Usage Guide

Context: official, professional, investigation

Tone: cooperative

Do Say

• 请协助我们的调查。(Please assist with our investigation.)
• 感谢您的协助。(Thank you for your assistance.)

Don't Say

• 你能协助我拿一下杯子吗 — 小事用'帮'更自然，协助用于正式或复杂的任务

Origin & History

Compound of 协 (to cooperate, jointly) + 助 (to help, assist). Together emphasizing cooperative assistance.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal