Meaning and Usage
The verb 助ける (たすける) primarily means "to help," "to save," or "to rescue." It is a transitive verb used when someone actively provides assistance or rescues another person or thing from difficulty or danger.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 助ける in contexts involving physical rescue (like saving someone from a fire or accident), helping someone in trouble, or providing support in daily situations such as helping a friend move.
Collocations and Patterns
- 困っている人を助ける: to help a person in trouble
- 火事で助ける: to rescue during a fire
- 手伝って助かる: to be helped by someone’s assistance (expressing relief)
Register and Politeness
助ける is a neutral verb suitable for both casual and polite contexts. When speaking politely, it is often combined with ます-form (助けます).
Common Learner Mistake
Do not confuse 助ける with 手伝う (てつだう), which also means "to help" but usually refers to assisting with tasks rather than rescuing or saving. 助ける implies a stronger sense of saving or rescuing, often from danger or serious trouble.