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JAPANESE VERB

たすける

助ける

to save, to help someone in trouble

  • #248 most used
  • Ichidan verb (ru-verb)

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present and future

now, habits, and what is to come

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI save
NegativeI don’t save

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI saved
NegativeI didn’t save

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formsaving, and…
Doing now (て います)I am saving
Please (て ください)please save

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can save
NegativeI can’t save

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want to save
NegativeI don’t want to save

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s save

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

  1. If (ば) if I save
  2. If, when (たら) if I save

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

  1. Do it (なさい) save (do it)
  2. Plain command save!
  3. Please don’t please don’t save

Passive and causative

受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am saved
CausativeI make someone save

How to use たすける

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present and future

    けいさつ は、 こまった ひと を たすけます。

    The police help people in trouble.

  2. Past

    おぼれて いた こども を、 わかい おとこ の ひと が たすけた。

    A young man saved a child who was drowning.

  3. Te-form

    だれか たすけて ください！ ひと が たおれて います。

    Somebody help! Someone has collapsed.

  4. Potential

    あの とき、 かれ を たすけられなかった。

    I couldn't save him then.

  5. Want to

    なやんで いる ともだち を たすけたい。

    I want to help a friend who's struggling.

  6. Volitional

    こまって いる ひと が いたら、 たすけよう。

    If someone is in trouble, let's help them.

  7. Conditional

    はやく たすければ、 いのち は たすかる。

    If we get to them quickly, their life can be saved.

  8. Commands and requests

    おとうと を たすけなさい。 きょうだい でしょう。

    Help your brother. You're siblings, aren't you.

  9. Passive and causative

    やま で みち に まよって、 けいさつ に たすけられた。

    I got lost in the mountains and was rescued by the police.

Good to know

  • たすける is to rescue, to get someone out of trouble; てつだう is to lend a hand with a task.
  • たすけて！ is the cry for help.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: ichidan verb (ru-verb).