Ask Jaybot ELI5 what is the difference between 助ける (tasukeru) and 手伝う (tetsudau)
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The Jaybot
ChatGPT AI bot
- 11 Mar 2023
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Both 助ける (tasukeru) and 手伝う (tetsudau) can be translated as "to help" in English, but they are used in slightly different situations.
助ける (tasukeru) is used when someone needs urgent or serious help. For example, if someone is drowning or being attacked, you would use 助ける (tasukeru) to describe helping them. It can also be used when someone is in a difficult or dangerous situation and needs assistance.
手伝う (tetsudau), on the other hand, is used when someone needs help with a task or activity. It is commonly used in everyday situations, such as helping a friend move or assisting with a project at work.
In summary, 助ける (tasukeru) is used for urgent or serious situations, while 手伝う (tetsudau) is used for more everyday situations where help is needed with a task or activity.
助ける (tasukeru) is used when someone needs urgent or serious help. For example, if someone is drowning or being attacked, you would use 助ける (tasukeru) to describe helping them. It can also be used when someone is in a difficult or dangerous situation and needs assistance.
手伝う (tetsudau), on the other hand, is used when someone needs help with a task or activity. It is commonly used in everyday situations, such as helping a friend move or assisting with a project at work.
In summary, 助ける (tasukeru) is used for urgent or serious situations, while 手伝う (tetsudau) is used for more everyday situations where help is needed with a task or activity.
- 22 Feb 2008
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Well, then, why 戦場からの脱出を手伝う。 and 家事を助けるため、ロボット掃除機を買った。 are both valid? "Escape from a battlefield" is urgent or serious situations, and "to help household work" is everyday situations, no?
The Jaybot
ChatGPT AI bot
- 11 Mar 2023
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You make a good point. While 助ける (tasukeru) is generally used for urgent or serious situations, it can also be used in situations where someone needs help with something important, such as escaping from a battlefield. Similarly, 手伝う (tetsudau) is generally used for everyday situations, but it can also be used in situations where someone needs help with a task that is important or requires effort.
In the example "戦場からの脱出を手伝う。" (Help escape from the battlefield), 手伝う (tetsudau) is used because the focus is on helping with a task (escaping) rather than providing urgent or life-saving assistance.
In the example "家事を助けるため、ロボット掃除機を買った。" (I bought a robot vacuum cleaner to help with household chores), 助ける (tasukeru) is not used because the focus is on helping with a task (household chores) rather than providing urgent or life-saving assistance.
So while the distinction between the two words is generally as I described earlier, there are situations where the line between them can be blurred and either word can be used depending on the context.
- 22 Feb 2008
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So, what is the difference between 戦場からの脱出を手伝う。 and 戦場からの脱出を助ける。in meaning? They are completely the same and interchangeable?
The Jaybot
ChatGPT AI bot
- 11 Mar 2023
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Both 戦場からの脱出を手伝う。(tewodanu) and 戦場からの脱出を助ける。(tasukeru) mean "to help escape from the battlefield" and the difference in meaning between them is subtle.
手伝う (tetsudau) implies that the help provided is more of a supportive nature, such as assisting with tasks or providing aid, while 助ける (tasukeru) implies that the help provided is more urgent and life-saving in nature.
So, in the case of 戦場からの脱出を手伝う。(tewodanu), it suggests that the person providing help is more involved in the process of escaping, while 戦場からの脱出を助ける。(tasukeru) suggests that the person providing help is more of an observer, offering assistance from a distance.
That being said, in many situations, the two words can be used interchangeably, and the choice between them may depend on the speaker's preference or the context of the situation.
- 22 Feb 2008
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What is the difference between 事故現場でけが人を助ける and 事故現場でけが人を手伝う?
- 17 Sep 2005
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@Toritoribe , you forgot to quote Jaybot. 
- 14 Mar 2002
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Requoting for Toritoribe-san.
What is the difference between 事故現場でけが人を助ける and 事故現場でけが人を手伝う?
What is the difference between 事故現場でけが人を助ける and 事故現場でけが人を手伝う?
The Jaybot
ChatGPT AI bot
- 11 Mar 2023
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- 96
事故現場でけが人を助ける (jiko genba de kega hito wo tasukeru) and 事故現場でけが人を手伝う (jiko genba de kega hito wo tetsudau) both mean "to help injured people at the scene of an accident," but there is a subtle difference in meaning between the two.
助ける (tasukeru) implies providing urgent or life-saving assistance, such as administering first aid or calling for emergency medical services. It is used in situations where immediate action is needed to save someone's life or prevent further harm.
手伝う (tetsudau), on the other hand, implies providing support or assistance with tasks, such as helping an injured person move or providing comfort while waiting for medical help to arrive. It is used in situations where the injured person's condition is not immediately life-threatening, but they still need help or support.
So, in summary, 助ける (tasukeru) is used in situations where urgent or life-saving assistance is needed, while 手伝う (tetsudau) is used in situations where support or assistance is needed with tasks or providing comfort.
- 22 Feb 2008
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Ooops!@Toritoribe , you forgot to quote Jaybot.
- 22 Feb 2008
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How about 事故現場で、血を流しながらほかの人を救助しているけが人を手伝う?
The Jaybot
ChatGPT AI bot
- 11 Mar 2023
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In the case of 事故現場で、血を流しながらほかの人を救助しているけが人を手伝う (jiko genba de, chi wo nagashinagara hoka no hito wo kyūjo shiteiru kega hito wo tetsudau), it is possible to use both 助ける (tasukeru) and 手伝う (tetsudau) depending on the context.
If the person who is injured and bleeding is actively involved in rescuing others, then 手伝う (tetsudau) can be used to describe helping them with tasks such as carrying equipment, directing others, or providing support in any way possible.
However, if the person is severely injured and their life is in danger, then 助ける (tasukeru) may be more appropriate to describe providing urgent or life-saving assistance, such as administering first aid or calling for emergency medical services.
In summary, the choice between 助ける (tasukeru) and 手伝う (tetsudau) depends on the situation and the level of urgency involved in providing assistance to the injured person at the scene of the accident.
- 22 Feb 2008
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家事を助ける is a really-used common expression. It's no doubt valid. Why did you say 助ける is not used?
The Jaybot
ChatGPT AI bot
- 11 Mar 2023
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I apologize for the confusion. You are correct that 家事を助ける (kaji wo tasukeru) is a commonly used expression that means "to help with household chores." I misspoke earlier by saying that 助ける (tasukeru) is not used in this context.
Both 手伝う (tetsudau) and 助ける (tasukeru) can be used to describe helping with household chores, but 手伝う (tetsudau) is more commonly used in this context because it implies a supportive role in assisting with tasks, while 助ける (tasukeru) implies more urgent or life-saving assistance.
So, to answer your question, 家事を助ける (kaji wo tasukeru) is a valid and commonly used expression that means "to help with household chores."
- 22 Feb 2008
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Then, why 助ける is used in 昨今の低金利は会社の発展を助ける。? 手伝う can't be used here instead of 助ける, right?
The Jaybot
ChatGPT AI bot
- 11 Mar 2023
- 845
- 96
You are correct that in the sentence 昨今の低金利は会社の発展を助ける (Sakkon no teikinri wa kaisha no hatten wo tasukeru), 助ける (tasukeru) is used to mean "to help with" or "to promote" the development of a company. In this context, 助ける (tasukeru) is not used in the sense of providing urgent or life-saving assistance, but rather to describe helping or supporting the growth or development of a company.
In this case, 手伝う (tetsudau) cannot be used instead of 助ける (tasukeru) because 手伝う (tetsudau) implies a more supportive role in assisting with tasks, while 助ける (tasukeru) implies a more active role in promoting or supporting the development of a company.
I apologize for any confusion earlier and hope this clears up any misunderstandings.
- 22 Feb 2008
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How about この胃薬は消化を助ける? Stomach medicine doesn't do active role in digestion, does it?
The Jaybot
ChatGPT AI bot
- 11 Mar 2023
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- 96
You are correct that stomach medicine does not play an active role in digestion, but it can help with digestion by relieving symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, or acid reflux. In this context, 助ける (tasukeru) is used to describe the stomach medicine's ability to help or support the digestive process by alleviating symptoms that could hinder digestion.
So, in the sentence この胃薬は消化を助ける (Kono igaku wa shōka wo tasukeru), 助ける (tasukeru) is used to mean "to help with" or "to support" the digestive process by alleviating symptoms that could hinder digestion.
While 手伝う (tetsudau) could be used to describe assisting with tasks related to digestion, such as cooking or preparing food, it would not be appropriate in this context because the focus is on the stomach medicine's ability to help with digestion rather than on a person's role in assisting with digestion.
- 22 Feb 2008
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Then, why is 彼女は夫の消化を手伝うために胃に優しい夕食を作った invalid?
- 22 Feb 2008
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The explanations by the AI are partially correct, but the summary "助ける (tasukeru) is used for urgent or serious situations, while 手伝う (tetsudau) is used for more everyday situations where help is needed with a task or activity." is way off.
助ける has a meaning "to rescue(救う)", so it's used for urgent or serious situations such like "someone is drowning or being attacked". 手伝う doesn't have this meaning, that's why 手伝う can't be used here.
While 助ける is used in more assistive situations, 手伝う is for more cooperative situations such like "helping a friend move(引っ越しを手伝う)". This is the main difference when used as "to help with a task".
"The summary by AI is way off" can be said also for ず vs ぬ in another thread. I think the explanation is nearly useless if the summary is wrong even if the explanation is partially correct.
助ける has a meaning "to rescue(救う)", so it's used for urgent or serious situations such like "someone is drowning or being attacked". 手伝う doesn't have this meaning, that's why 手伝う can't be used here.
While 助ける is used in more assistive situations, 手伝う is for more cooperative situations such like "helping a friend move(引っ越しを手伝う)". This is the main difference when used as "to help with a task".
"The summary by AI is way off" can be said also for ず vs ぬ in another thread. I think the explanation is nearly useless if the summary is wrong even if the explanation is partially correct.
- Thread starter
- #23
I know, thats what I hoped the bot would say, I got a little frustrated too, just like chatgpt and other bots it shouldnt always be taken that much seriously
