What does “tasukeru” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “tasukeru” to mean ‘to help’ in Japanese. Probably, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese textbooks. In this blog post, however, I will explain it and its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “tasukeru” properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meaning of “tasukeru”
- Tasukenai: the nai form of “tasukeru”
- Tasukeyou: the volitional form of “tasukeru”
- Tasukemasu: the masu form of “tasukeru”
- Tasuketa: the ta form of “tasukeru”
- Tasukete: the te form of “tasukeru”
- Tasukereba: the ba form of “tasukeru”
- Summary
Definition and meaning of “tasukeru”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “tasukeru”.
- tasukeru – 助ける (たすける) : a verb meaning ‘to help’ in Japanese.
The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “help” in Japanese
boku wa itsumo kazoku wo tasukeru – 僕はいつも家族を助ける (ぼくはいつもかぞくをたすける)
I always help my family.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku” to make the subject in the sentence.
- itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
- kazoku – 家族 (かぞく) : a noun meaning ‘family’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kazoku” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “tasukeru”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object – the target of the action. When we want to mean ‘to help’ in Japanese, anyway, this verb is a very good option.
In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain major conjugations of “tasukeru”. The first one is “tasukenai”.
Tasukenai: the nai form of “tasukeru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “tasukenai”.
- tasukenai – 助けない (たすけない) : the nai form of “tasukeru”, which means ‘not to help’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tasukenai” consists of the following two parts:
- tasuke – 助け (たすけ) : one conjugation of “tasukeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
- nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.
From these two parts, we can understand that “tasukenai” is literally the nai form of “tasukeru” and means ‘not to help’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “don’t help” in Japanese
kodomo tachi wa hamabe no kame wo tasukenai – 子供達は浜辺の亀を助けない (こどもたちははまべのかめをたすけない)
Kids don’t help the turtle on the beach.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kodomo – 子供 (こども) : a noun meaning ‘kid’ or ‘child’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “kodomo” to make its plural form, “kodomo tachi”, which means ‘children’ in Japanese.
- hamabe – 浜辺 (はまべ) : a noun meaning ‘beach’ in Japanese.
- no – の : a case particle used to join two nouns. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this is used to join “hamabe” and “kame”. The formed phrase literally means ‘the turtle on the beach’ in Japanese.
- kame – 亀 (かめ) : a noun meaning ‘turtle’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “tasukenai”. When we want to mean ‘not to help’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Tasukeyou: the volitional form of “tasukeru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “tasukeyou”.
- tasukeyou – 助けよう (たすけよう) : the volitional form of “tasukeru”, which expresses volition to help.
Grammatically, “tasukeyou” consists of the following two parts:
- tasuke – 助け (たすけ) : one conjugation of “tasukeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “you”.
- you – よう : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “tasukeyou” is literally the volitional form of “tasukeru” and expresses volition to help. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s help” in Japanese
kono hoshi wo tasukeyou – この星を助けよう (このほしをたすけよう)
Let’s help this planet!
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “hoshi” to say “this planet” in Japanese.
- hoshi – 星 (ほし) : a noun meaning ‘star’ or ‘planet’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “tasukeyou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s help” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Tasukemasu: the masu form of “tasukeru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “tasukemasu”.
- tasukemasu – 助けます (たすけます) : the masu form of “tasukeru”, which means ‘to help’ politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tasukemasu” consists of the following two parts:
- tasuke – 助け (たすけ) : one conjugation of “tasukeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
- masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “tasukemasu” is literally the masu form of “tasukeru” and means ‘to help’ politely in Japanese. Let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “help” politely in Japanese
kare wa tokidoki kouhai wo tasukemasu – 彼は時々後輩を助けます (かれはときどきこうはいをたすけます)
He sometimes helps his junior colleagues.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
- tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
- kouhai – 後輩 (こうはい) : a noun meaning ‘junior colleague’ or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “tasukemasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “help” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.
Tasuketa: the ta form of “tasukeru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “tasuketa”.
- tasuketa – 助けた (たすけた) : the ta form of “tasukeru”, which means ‘helped’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tasuketa” consists of the following two parts:
- tasuke – 助け (たすけ) : one conjugation of “tasukeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
- ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “tasuketa” is literally the ta form of “tasukeru” and means ‘helped’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “helped” in Japanese
boku wa ano kame wo tasuketa – 僕はあの亀を助けた (ぼくはあのかめをたすけた)
I helped that turtle.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- ano – あの : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing not close to the speaker. In the example, this is use before “kame” to say “that turtle” in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “tasuketa”. When we want to say “helped” in Japanese, this ta form is a good option.
Tasukete: the te form of “tasukeru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “tasukete”.
- tasukete – 助けて (たすけて) : the te form of “tasukeru”, which means ‘to help’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tasukete” consists of the following two parts:
- tasuke – 助け (たすけ) : one conjugation of “tasukeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
- te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “tasukete” is literally the te form of “tasukeru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “tasukete” is very useful when we want to use “tasukeru” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #6: how to say “please help” in Japanese
「tasukete kudasai」 to kame ga it ta – 「助けてください」と亀が言った (「たすけてください」とかめがいった)
“Please help me,” the turtle said.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, it can work as an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works as an adverb to add the meaning of “please” to “tasukete”.
- to – と : a case particle working as a quote marker. In the example, this works after the clause to indicate what the turtle said.
- ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kame” to make the subject in the sentence.
- it – 言っ (いっ) : one conjugation of the verb, “iu”, which means ‘to say’, ‘to tell’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
This is a typical usage of “tasukete”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “tasukeru” in front of an auxiliary verb, its te form is very useful.
Tasukereba: the ba form of “tasukeru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “tasukeru”.
- tasukereba – 助ければ (たすければ) : the ba form of “tasukeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to help’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tasukereba” consists of the following two parts:
- tasukere – 助けれ (たすけれ) : one conjugation of “tasukeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
- ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “tasukereba” is literally the ba form of “tasukeru”. In Japanese, ba-formed words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “tasukereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to help’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if help” in Japanese
kame wo tasukereba, umi no soko ni ikeru – 亀を助ければ、海の底に行ける (かめをたすければ、うみのそこにいける)
If you help the turtle, you can go to the bottom of the sea.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- umi – 海 (うみ) : a noun meaning ‘sea’ or ‘ocean’ in Japanese.
- soko – 底 (そこ) : a noun meaning ‘bottom’ or such in Japanese.
- ni – に : a case particle used to say where someone or something goes. In the example, this is used after “umi no soko” to say where the listeners can go after helping the turtle.
- ikeru – 行ける (いける) : a verb meaning ‘can go’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “tasukereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kame wo tasukereba”, which means ‘if you help the turtle’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to help’, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained “tasukeru” and its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- tasukeru – 助ける (たすける) : a verb meaning ‘to help’ in Japanese.
- tasukenai – 助けない (たすけない) : the nai form of “tasukeru”, which means ‘not to help’ in Japanese.
- tasukeyou – 助けよう (たすけよう) : the volitional form of “tasukeru”, which expresses volition to help.
- tasukemasu – 助けます (たすけます) : the masu form of “tasukeru”, which means ‘to help’ politely in Japanese.
- tasuketa – 助けた (たすけた) : the ta form of “tasukeru”, which means ‘helped’ in Japanese.
- tasukete – 助けて (たすけて) : the te form of “tasukeru”, which means ‘to help’ in Japanese.
- tasukereba – 助ければ (たすければ) : the ba form of “tasukeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to help’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
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