助けます（たすけます、tasukemaす）
- to help

The Japanese word 助けます (読み方: たすけます, *tasukemasu*) means "to help," "to save," or "to rescue." It implies providing assistance to someone in a difficult situation, either physically or metaphorically. The help can range from a simple act of offering support to a more significant act of saving someone's life or preventing a negative outcome. 助けますis a versatile verb.

⚫︎困っている人を助けます。 Translation: I will help the person who is in trouble. ⚫︎火事から猫を助けました。 Translation: I saved the cat from the fire. ⚫︎彼の宿題を助けてあげましょうか？ Translation: Shall I help him with his homework?

⚫︎You can use 助けます when offering or providing help to someone. ⚫︎It's used in various situations, from helping with a task to rescuing someone from danger. ⚫︎The subject of the verb is usually the person who is providing the help. ⚫︎This verb can take the form of 助け (noun form) to mean "help." ⚫︎The polite form is 助けます (助けます) and the casual form is 助ける.

⚫︎The word is typically written in kanji as 助けます, in hiragana as たすけます. ⚫︎The kanji 助 means "help," "assist," "save," or "rescue." The kanji け (ke) is a hiragana character. ⚫︎The suffix hiragana "ます" (masu) is the polite form ending, which is often added to the stem of a verb. ⚫︎Other forms of this word include: ⚫︎助ける (tasukeru): to help (plain form) ⚫︎助けて (tasukete): helping (te-form) ⚫︎助けた (tasuketa): helped (past tense) ⚫︎助けたい (tasuketai): want to help

⚫︎手伝います (tetsudaimasu): to help, to assist (with a task) ⚫︎救います (sukuiimasu): to save, to rescue (often from a dangerous situation) ⚫︎支援します (shien shimasu): to support, to assist (more formal)

⚫︎There isn't a single direct antonym. The opposite actions depend on the context. Some could include: ⚫︎邪魔します (jama shimasu): to disturb, to get in the way ⚫︎妨げます (samatagemasu): to hinder, to obstruct

友達が引っ越しを手伝ってほしいと言ったので、助けに行きました。 ・Translation: My friend said they wanted help with their move, so I went to help. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates using 助け in the context of offering assistance.

地震の後、ボランティアの人々が被災者を助けました。 ・Translation: After the earthquake, volunteers helped the victims. ・Explanation: This sentence shows 助け used in a situation where people are in need of rescue or aid.

The kanji 助 is made up of two parts, a radical and a phonetic component. It suggests "to assist," "to aid," or "to rescue." The verb itself originates from the combination of the kanji and the verb ending, which forms the word to describe the action of helping or assisting someone.