nidan verb (lower class) with 'ku' ending (archaic), transitive verb
Archaic transitive verb (Nidan, lower class, ku-ending). In modern Japanese, 助ける (たすける) is used instead. Found in classical texts.
古語では「人を助く」と言った。
In classical Japanese, they said 'to help a person' using 助く.
Modern equivalent; 助く is the archaic form, no longer used in contemporary speech.
Archaic form of 助ける (たすける). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it belongs to the classical Nidan verb class.