手伝う
てつだう
hepburn tetsudau
to help, to assist
Part of speech · godan-verb
Pattern visualization
Examples
- 宿題を手伝ってください。Please help me with my homework.
- 友達の引っ越しを手伝いました。I helped my friend move.
Collocations
~を手伝う (help with)手伝ってください (please help)お手伝い (otetsudai, "help" noun, polite)手伝い (tetsudai, helper)手 (te) + 伝う (tsutau, follow)
Mnemonic
手伝う tetsudau — godan -u. Etymology: 手 (hand) + 伝う (follow along) = "follow with one's hand to help". お手伝いさん otetsudai-san is a polite term for a housekeeper. Distinct from 助ける tasukeru (rescue/help in crisis): tetsudau is for daily assistance (homework, moving, cooking).
Quick check
For "rescue a drowning person", which verb fits?