Japanese word

手伝い

Pronunciation

Romajitetsudai

Meaning

  • nounhelp

Example

料理の手伝いをします。ryō ri no te tsuda i o shi ma su

I help with cooking.

Illustration for 手伝い (help)

More examples

忙しいときは、友だちに手伝いを頼みます。isoga shi i to ki wa tomo da chi ni te tsuda i o tano mi ma su

When I am busy, I ask a friend for help.

Core concept

Expresses support that makes another person's work easier, and can also denote the person providing that support.

Common phrases

  • 手伝いをするte tsuda i o su ru

    help

  • 手伝いを頼むte tsuda i o tano mu

    ask for help

  • 手伝いが必要te tsuda i ga hitsu yō

    need help

Similar words

お手伝いotetsudai: A polite term for help or for a person who provides it.
手助けtedasuke: Help that makes a task easier or supports someone in doing it.
協力kyōryoku: Joint effort by two or more people toward a shared task or goal.

Definition in Japanese

人の仕事や用事に力を添えること。また、その役を担う人。hito no shi goto ya yō ji ni chikara o so e ru ko to ma ta so no yaku o nina u hito

Word origin

手伝い (tetsudai) is the noun form of 手伝う (tetsudau), combining 手 (te, "hand") with 伝う (tsutau, "to follow along or pass along").

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, お手伝い (otetsudai) makes 手伝い (tetsudai) sound more polite when asking whether help is needed.

Other meanings

  • assistantnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 手伝い方tetsudaikataway of helpingnoun

Word lists with this word