助ける

• Reading: たすける
• Romaji: tasukeru
• Kanji breakdown: 助 (jo/tasu) — help, assist, save
• Pronunciation: /ta.sɯ.ke.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To help; to save; to rescue. Actively giving assistance or saving someone from danger.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb and the transitive counterpart of 助かる. Used for both physical rescue (命を助ける, to save a life) and everyday help (友達を助ける, to help a friend). More direct and action-oriented than 手伝う (to lend a hand). Common in emergency, moral, and everyday contexts.

Examples

1. 溺れている人を助けるために飛び込んだ。 He jumped in to save the person who was drowning.
2. 困っている人を見たら助けたいと思う。 When I see someone in trouble, I want to help them.
3. 友達が引っ越しを助けてくれた。 My friend helped me move.

Usage Guide

Context: emergencies, daily life, teamwork

Tone: urgent

Origin & History

The kanji 助 combines 力 (power) and 且 (moreover). 'Adding power' to someone — actively lending strength to help them.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal