Meaning
助 means to help or assist someone. It's a formal, literary character often used in compound words and written contexts. While 帮 (bāng) and 帮助 (bāngzhù) are more common in everyday speech for 'to help', 助 frequently appears in formal phrases, idioms, and as a component in words related to assistance.
Usage
助 is rarely used alone in modern spoken Mandarin. It typically appears in compound words like 帮助 (help), 援助 (aid), 助理 (assistant), or in formal expressions. In speech, native speakers prefer 帮 or 帮助. The character 助 conveys a sense of supporting or facilitating someone's efforts.
Examples
- 01他的成功离不开朋友们的帮助。.His success cannot be separated from his friends' help.
- 02这个项目得到了政府的大力援助。.This project received strong aid from the government.
Common collocations
- 助人为乐to find joy in helping others
- 互助mutual aid
- 助一臂之力to lend a helping hand
Antonyms
Origin
The character 助 is composed of 力 (lì, strength) on the right, representing physical effort. The left side is a variant form that evolved over time. The character originally depicted the idea of adding one's strength to help another.