Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
助手 (じょしゅ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Report an issue with this page
て
レストラン
で
働はたら
い
て
いる
。
He works at the restaurant as a kitchen assistant.
I asked a friend to help with the move.
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 の 助じょ 手しゅ を 務つと める to serve as someone's assistant
She serves as the professor's assistant.
〈 人ひと 〉 の 助じょ 手しゅ になる to become someone's assistant
After graduating, he became a famous chef's assistant.
助じょ 手しゅ として 働はたら く to work as an assistant
He works as an assistant in the research lab.
Related words 助手 is the native Japanese term for an assistant, while アシスタント is a loanword often used in creative or media fields like photography or TV production.
秘書 specifically handles administrative and clerical work for an executive, whereas 助手 is a broader term for someone helping with any kind of task.
補佐 emphasizes supporting or backing up a superior in decision-making, while 助手 refers more plainly to a helper carrying out tasks.
助手 is a more formal, often job-title term for an assistant (e.g. in a lab or office), while 手伝い refers to anyone helping with a practical task.
Don't confuse with 助教 is a specific, official academic rank (roughly assistant professor) created in 2007, while 助手 is a more general research/lab assistant position without that formal teaching status.
助手 is a formal, often employed assistant (e.g. lab assistant), whereas 助っ人 is a casual or temporary helper brought in for a specific need.
Etymology Compound of 助 (じょ, 'help') and 手 (しゅ, 'hand; person'), literally 'helping hand/person'. The reading is on'yomi. The academic sense is a natural extension of the general meaning.
