Refers to a physical object that holds something up, or metaphorically to a person or thing that provides emotional, financial, or structural support.
She has always been a support for her family.
I put a support on the shelf so it wouldn't fall.
She is the emotional support of the family.
After losing his father, he lost his means of support in life.
When you're in trouble, it's okay to seek support from those around you.
My friend's words became an emotional support for me.
助け is general help or aid given in a moment of need, whereas 支え suggests ongoing, steady support that sustains someone.
後ろ盾 refers to a backer who provides protection or influence, while 支え is a more neutral, general word for support of any kind.
支え describes ongoing emotional support that sustains a person, whereas 励み is a specific event or fact that spurs someone on to try harder.
支え is a generic word for any kind of support, while 大黒柱 emphasizes a single, indispensable central figure or thing.
支え means support or backing in a broad, often abstract sense, while 柱 implies a single central, pillar-like source of support.
支え refers to broader emotional or practical support that sustains someone, while 励まし is specifically words or acts meant to motivate.
支持 means support in the sense of backing an opinion, policy, or person, while 支え more often refers to physical or emotional support that sustains someone.
支え read as ささえ means 'support' or 'prop', a completely different word from 支え read as つかえ, which means an oppressive feeling or an obstacle.
Standard kanji spelling for the noun meaning support or prop.
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the physical or metaphorical support nuance is clear from context.
Derived from the verb 支える (ささえる, 'to support'). The noun form 支え is the continuative form (連用形) of the verb, used as a noun.