手伝う To Help

Meaning

Primary

To Help

Alternatives

To Assist, To Lend A Hand

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

When you transmit your hand to something or someone, you're putting out your hand to help them or to assist them.

Reading

てつだう

Explanation

Both of these are the kun'yomi readings that you've already learned! The thing is, the た from 伝's つた changes into だ for who knows what reason. Perhaps you can ask for someone to help you to understand this dumb reading change.

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 〜も手伝う

  家事も手伝う

  to also help out with housework

  私も手伝う

  I will help too

  仕事も手伝う

  to also help someone with their work

• 〜を手伝う

  仕事を手伝う

  to help someone with their work

  家事を手伝う

  to help out with housework

  作業を手伝う

  to help someone with a task

Context Sentences

れいぞうこをかた付けるの、手伝ってくれない？

Can you give me a hand in cleaning up the fridge?

ビエトに、コウイチに一億ドルのほけん金をかけたので、やつを暗殺するのを手伝ってほしいとたのまれたんだ。

Viet asked me to help him assassinate Koichi because he purchased a 100 million dollar insurance policy for him.

ごめんなさい。お手伝いしてあげたいんだけど、私にはどうにもできないんです。

I’m sorry. I’d like to help but my hands are tied.

Kanji Composition

1. 手

   て Hand
2. 伝

   でん Transmit