Translation guide
The English verb 'assist' can be expressed in Japanese through various words and patterns depending on the context: helping someone with a task, supporting a person or effort, or providing assistance in a formal or technical sense. The most common and versatile word is 手伝う (てつだう), but other options like 助ける (たすける) and 援助する (えんじょする) carry different nuances of rescue, support, or formal aid.
To physically or practically help someone do something, like housework, moving, or a work task.
The most common and natural word for helping with a concrete task. It implies joining in and doing part of the work together.
引っ越しを手伝ってくれませんか？
Could you assist me with moving?
母の料理を手伝った。
I assisted my mother with cooking.
Literally 'lend a hand'. A casual, friendly way to offer help, often for a short or simple task.
ちょっと手を貸してくれる？
Can you give me a hand?
While often translated as 'save' or 'rescue', it can also mean 'assist' when someone is in a difficult situation or needs relief from a burden.
忙しい時はいつも彼が助けてくれる。
He always assists me when I'm busy.
To provide support, backing, or aid to a person, organization, or endeavor, often in a non-physical way.
A formal word for providing support, often used for financial, technical, or organizational assistance.
政府は被災地を支援するために資金を送った。
The government sent funds to assist the disaster area.
Similar to 支援する, but often implies material or financial aid, especially in international or humanitarian contexts.
NGOが難民を援助している。
The NGO is assisting refugees.
Can be used for supporting someone emotionally or helping them achieve a goal.
In sports, to make a play that directly helps a teammate score.
A loanword from English, used specifically in sports contexts like soccer or basketball.
彼はゴールをアシストした。
He assisted the goal.
Colloquial phrase meaning 'to make an assist'.
素晴らしいアシストを決めた。
He made a brilliant assist.
To provide help in a professional, medical, or technical setting.
Means to assist as a supplementary helper, often in a subordinate role, like a teaching assistant or a machine aiding a human.
先生を補助する仕事です。
It's a job assisting the teacher.
Specifically for assisting people with physical disabilities or the elderly in daily activities.
看護師が患者の食事を介助する。
The nurse assists the patient with eating.
手伝う is for joining in a task (e.g., cooking, moving). 助ける is for rescuing or relieving someone from difficulty. 援助する is for formal, often financial or material support. Using 助ける for a simple chore can sound overly dramatic.
The loanword アシスト is only used in sports or very specific technical contexts. Using it for everyday help sounds unnatural. Stick to 手伝う or 手を貸す.
彼の言葉が私を助けた。
His words assisted me (emotionally).