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求助 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
求助qiúzhùto request helpHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #6202, Hard
求助qiúzhùto appeal (for help)HSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #6202, Hard
qiúzhù(qiu2zhu4)qiu zhu T2
  1. 1to request help
  2. 2to appeal (for help)
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March 24, 2026

求助qiúzhù(qiu2zhu4)

求助 (qiu2 zhu4) means 'to request help' or 'to appeal for assistance.' This phrase is commonly used in situations where someone needs support, whether it be in personal matters, academic difficulties, or emergencies. It conveys a sense of seeking aid from others, highlighting the importance of community and support in Chinese culture.

Strokes14Frequency#6202DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, asking for help is often seen as a sign of strength and humility rather than weakness. This reflects the communal values prevalent in society, where individuals rely on each other for support, especially in times of need.

Memory tip

Imagine a person (求) with hands raised in the air, crying out for help (助) like a superhero in distress. The character 求 looks like a person reaching out, while 助 resembles a helping hand. Together, they form the image of someone asking for assistance.

Meanings of 求助

qiúzhù(qiu2zhu4)
1to request help
2to appeal (for help)
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About 求助

求助Simplified
14Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 求助

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AI Study Notes for 求助

Quick Contrast

求援 (qiúyuán) — use 求助 when the focus is on asking for help, while 求援 emphasizes requesting assistance in a more formal or urgent context.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; '求' (qiu2) is second tone and '助' (zhu4) is fourth tone, so mispronouncing either can change the meaning. This phrase is generally informal but can be used in various contexts, so ensure to match your tone to the situation. Common collocations include '求助于' (to seek help from) and '请求帮助' (to request assistance).

HSK Study Tips

While '求助' is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it connects well with vocabulary related to social interactions and emergencies. Focus on using it in sentences to practice context, such as '我需要求助' (I need to ask for help). This will also reinforce the structure of the phrase in conversation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse the tones, saying 'qiu1 zhu4' instead of 'qiu2 zhu4.' Another common mistake is using 求助 without a subject, as in '求助' alone, which can sound abrupt; it's better to phrase it as '我想求助' (I would like to request help).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 求助

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Component Characters

求qiúto seek
HSK 67 strokes氺
View full entry
助zhùto help
HSK 57 strokes力
View full entry

How to say to request help in Chinese

“to request help” in Chinese is求助qiúzhù

求助 (qiu2 zhu4) means 'to request help' or 'to appeal for assistance.' This phrase is commonly used in situations where someone needs support, whether it be in personal matters, academic difficulties, or emergencies. It conveys a sense of seeking aid from others, highlighting the importance of community and support in Chinese culture.

When to use 求助

Be cautious with the tone; '求' (qiu2) is second tone and '助' (zhu4) is fourth tone, so mispronouncing either can change the meaning. This phrase is generally informal but can be used in various contexts, so ensure to match your tone to the situation. Common collocations include '求助于' (to seek help from) and '请求帮助' (to request assistance).

求助 or something close to it

求援 (qiúyuán) — use 求助 when the focus is on asking for help, while 求援 emphasizes requesting assistance in a more formal or urgent context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse the tones, saying 'qiu1 zhu4' instead of 'qiu2 zhu4.' Another common mistake is using 求助 without a subject, as in '求助' alone, which can sound abrupt; it's better to phrase it as '我想求助' (I would like to request help).

Write 求助

求
助

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Frequently Asked Questions about 求助

Use 求助 when you need assistance in a situation, whether it's asking a friend for advice or seeking help from authorities.

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