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有助于 (yǒu zhù yú) — to contribute to, to promote, to be helpful for

Definition

Commonly used when something 'helps' achieve a result or has a positive effect — less forceful than 促进 (which actively pushes something forward) and more neutral than 协助 (which involves direct help).

verb
to contribute toto promoteto be helpful for

Examples

  • 有助于。
    Jīng cháng yuè dú yǒu zhù yú tí gāo xiě zuò shuǐ píng.
    Reading frequently helps improve writing skills.
  • 有助于。
    Tuán duì hé zuò yǒu zhù yú xiàng mù shùn lì wán chéng.
    Teamwork contributes to the smooth completion of the project.
  • 有助于。
    Měi tiān pǎo bù yǒu zhù yú bǎo chí shēn tǐ jiàn kāng.
    Running every day helps maintain physical health.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

有助have help
有yǒuhave助zhùhelp
动宾Verb + object
于yúto

“有” and “助” mean have help, and “于” points to the thing helped, giving to contribute to.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrong arm
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě助zhù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

助 pairs 力, a strong arm, with 且, which gives the sound; the meaning is help with strength.

Open 助 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

Open 于 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5Cause, Effect & Logic

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