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March 24, 2026
助zhù(zhu4)
The character 助 (zhù) means 'to help' or 'to assist.' It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, often relating to providing support or aid to someone in need. The nuance can imply a sense of collaboration or partnership in various activities.
Strokes7Radical力Frequency#4744DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of helping others is deeply ingrained in social interactions and community life, often seen in family and friend dynamics where mutual assistance is expected.
Memory Tip
Imagine a superhero (助) lifting someone up to help them. The character has a person (亻) on the left side, representing someone, and the right side sounds like 'zhu' which you can remember as 'zoo'—where helpers assist animals.
Meanings of 助
zhù(zhu4)
1to help
2to assist
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 助
助Simplified
7Strokes
力Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4744Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 助
Podcast: 助
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AI Study Notes for 助
Quick Contrast
帮助 (bāngzhù) vs 协助 (xiézhù) — use 助 (zhù) for a more general sense of help, while 帮助 (bāngzhù) implies direct assistance, and 协助 (xiézhù) suggests a more formal or cooperative support.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context; 助 can be used in both formal and everyday situations, but in more formal settings, you might encounter 助理 (zhùlǐ) meaning 'assistant.' Common collocations include 助手 (zhùshǒu) for 'helper' and 助力 (zhùlì) meaning 'to provide assistance.'
HSK Study Tips
While 助 is not currently listed in the HSK levels, it is valuable for learners at HSK 3 and above. Students should focus on its usage in contexts of assistance and support, connecting it to phrases like 帮助 (bāngzhù) which means 'to help.'
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 助 with 帮 (bāng), thinking they are interchangeable. For example, saying '我能助你' (Wǒ néng zhù nǐ) is less common; it's better to say '我能帮你' (Wǒ néng bāng nǐ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 助
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Phonosemantic compound. 力 represents the meaning and 且 represents the sound.
1The meaning half力 carries the sense.
2The sound half且 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaystrength
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 助? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 助?
Decomposition of 助
IDS Structure⿰且力
助Full Character
=
且qie3
left
力Li4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 助?
How to say to help in Chinese
“to help” in Chinese is助zhù
The character 助 (zhù) means 'to help' or 'to assist.' It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, often relating to providing support or aid to someone in need. The nuance can imply a sense of collaboration or partnership in various activities.
When to use 助
Be mindful of the context; 助 can be used in both formal and everyday situations, but in more formal settings, you might encounter 助理 (zhùlǐ) meaning 'assistant.' Common collocations include 助手 (zhùshǒu) for 'helper' and 助力 (zhùlì) meaning 'to provide assistance.'
助 or something close to it
帮助 (bāngzhù) vs 协助 (xiézhù) — use 助 (zhù) for a more general sense of help, while 帮助 (bāngzhù) implies direct assistance, and 协助 (xiézhù) suggests a more formal or cooperative support.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 助 with 帮 (bāng), thinking they are interchangeable. For example, saying '我能助你' (Wǒ néng zhù nǐ) is less common; it's better to say '我能帮你' (Wǒ néng bāng nǐ).
Write 助
助
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Practice writing 助 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 助
助 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
