有助 (yǒu zhù) — to be helpful to, to contribute to, to aid

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'helps' or 'contributes to' — used for things (activities, habits) that benefit a goal or process, not for directly helping a person. Compare 帮助, which focuses on assisting someone in need.

verb
to be helpful toto contribute toto aid

Examples

  • 有助。
    Duō hē shuǐ yǒu zhù jiàn kāng.
    Drinking plenty of water is good for your health.
  • ，。
    Tā de jiàn yì yǒu jí dà de zhù, bāng zhù wǒ men jiě jué le wèn tí.
    His suggestion was of great help and helped us solve the problem.
  • 有助。
    Duō tīng yīn yuè yǒu zhù fàng sōng xīn qíng.
    Listening to more music helps you relax.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

有yǒuhave
助zhùhelp

“有” (have) and “助” (help) combine to express having help, hence being helpful.

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 →

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