帮 (bāng) — to help; to assist
Definition
帮 (bāng) is a verb meaning 'to help' — used by itself it often needs an object: 帮他. 帮忙 is the everyday set phrase 'do a favor'; 帮助 is the more formal written equivalent.
verb
to helpto assist
Examples
- 帮。Wǒ bāng mā ma zuò fàn.I help Mom cook.
- 帮？Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?Can you help me?
- 帮。Tā bāng wǒ xué hàn yǔ.He helps me study Chinese.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 幫; 帮 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
帛帛bósilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
封
封fēng幫bāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
In 帮's traditional form 幫, 帛 (silk) gives the meaning and 封 gives the sound; it originally named the upper part of a shoe.
Grammar
Appears in
Browse more HSK 2 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.