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帮助 (bāng zhù) — to help, to assist

Definition

帮助 (bāngzhù) is a neutral verb/noun for 'to help / help' in everyday contexts, broader than 帮 (informal, mainly a verb). Use 帮助 for both the action and the abstract concept of assistance.

verb
to helpto assist

Examples

  • 帮助？
    Nǐ néng bāng zhù wǒ xué zhōng wén ma?
    Can you help me learn Chinese?
  • 帮助。
    Tā jīng cháng bāng zhù mā ma zuò fàn.
    He often helps his mom cook.
  • 帮助。
    Qǐng bāng zhù wǒ yí xià.
    Please help me a moment.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

帮bānghelp
助zhùhelp

帮 and 助 both mean to assist; together they form a general word for giving help.

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.

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.

Open 帮 →

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 →
Appears in
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