Quintuple VS
Synonym Boundary: "手伝います", "手伝う", "助ける", "お手伝い", "手助け"
All represent the core concept "help", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
手伝います
てつだいます (tetsudaimasu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
手伝う
てつだう (tetsudau)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
助ける
たすける (tasukeru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
お手伝い
おてつだい (otetsudai)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option E
手助け
てだすけ (tedasuke)
N2 / CEFR
Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "help" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "手伝います", "手伝う", "助ける", "お手伝い", "手助け" based on context.
- 手伝います (てつだいます (tetsudaimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to help" and is used when Transitive verb. Used when offering assistance or helping with a task. Often followed by the particle を.
- 手伝う (てつだう (tetsudau) - Level: N5): Maps to "to help; to assist" and is used when Indicates providing assistance to someone with a task or work. Often used when offering help or asking for help. It is a transitive verb..
- 助ける (たすける (tasukeru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to help, to save, to rescue" and is used when Refers to providing assistance or saving someone/something from danger or trouble. Often implies active intervention..
- お手伝い (おてつだい (otetsudai) - Level: N4): Maps to "help; assistance; helper (polite term)" and is used when A polite noun meaning 'help' or 'assistance', often referring to helping with household chores or simple tasks. It can also refer to a 'helper'. Verb form is 手伝う.
- 手助け (てだすけ (tedasuke) - Level: N2): Maps to "help, assistance" and is used when Refers to lending a hand or providing support, often in a physical or direct way. 人が困っているときに助けを提供すること。.
Context for "手伝います"
母の料理を手伝います。
I help my mother cook.
Context for "手伝う"
料理を_______ましょうか。
Shall I help you with cooking?
Context for "助ける"
困っている人を助けることは大切です。
It is important to help people in trouble.
Context for "お手伝い"
母の料理のお手伝いをしました。
I helped my mother with her cooking.
Context for "手助け"
荷物を運ぶのを手助けしてもらった。
I received help carrying the luggage.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "母の料理を ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I help my mother cook.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "手伝います" is correct here because it represents "to help" in the context: "I help my mother cook.".