Tetsudau is the Japanese verb for ‘to help’ or ‘to lend a hand’

What does “tetsudau” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “tetsudau” to mean ‘to help’ or ‘to lend a hand’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “tetsudau” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “tetsudau”
  • Example #1: how to say “helps” in Japanese
• Tetsudawanai: the nai form of “tetsudau”
  • Example #2: how to say “don’t help” in Japanese
• Tetsudaou: the volitional form of “tetsudau”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s help” in Japanese
• Tetsudaimasu: the masu form of “tetsudau”
  • Example #4: how to say “helps” politely in Japanese
• Tetsudatta: the ta form of “tetsudau”
  • Example #5: how to say “helped” in Japanese
• Tetsudatte: the te form of “tetsudau”
  • Example #6: how to say “please help” in Japanese
• Tetsudaeba: the ba form of “tetsudau”
  • Example #7: how to say “if help” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “tetsudau”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “tetsudau”.

• tetsudau – 手伝う (てつだう) : a verb meaning ‘to help’ or ‘to lend a hand’ in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers use this verb mainly when they help someone to do something.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “helps” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kare” to make the subject in the sentence.
• tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to make its possessive case, “kanojo no”, which means ‘her’ in Japanese.
• shukudai – 宿題 (しゅくだい) : a noun meaning ‘homework’ in Japanese.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kanojo no shukudai” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “tetsudau”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “tetsudau” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “tetsudawanai”.

Tetsudawanai: the nai form of “tetsudau”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tetsudawanai”.

• tetsudawanai – 手伝わない (てつだわない) : the nai form of “tetsudau”, which means ‘not to help’ or ‘not to lend a hand’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tetsudawanai” consists of the following two parts:

• tetsudawa – 手伝わ (てつだわ) : one conjugation of “tetsudau”. 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 “tetsudawanai” is literally the nai form of “tetsudau” and means ‘not to help’ or ‘not to lend a hand’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “don’t help” in Japanese

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.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its plural form, “boku tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese. Learn more about Japanese plural.

This is a typical usage of “tetsudawanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to help’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Tetsudaou: the volitional form of “tetsudau”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tetsudaou”.

• tetsudaou – 手伝おう (てつだおう) : the volitional form of “tetsudau”, which expresses volition to help or lend a hand.

Grammatically, “tetsudaou” consists of the following two parts:

• tetsudao – 手伝お (てつだお) : one conjugation of “tetsudau”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
• u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “tetsudaou” is literally the volitional form of “tetsudau” and expresses volition to help or lend a hand. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s help” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• issho – 一緒 (いっしょ) : a noun meaning ‘same’, ‘being together’, or such in Japanese.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say how someone does something. In the example, this is used after “issho” to say “together” in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “tetsudaou”. 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.

Tetsudaimasu: the masu form of “tetsudau”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tetsudaimasu”.

• tetsudaimasu – 手伝います (てつだいます) : the masu form of “tetsudau”, which means ‘to help’ or ‘to lend a hand’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tetsudaimasu” consists of the following two parts:

• tetsudai – 手伝い (てつだい) : one conjugation of “tetsudau”. 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 “tetsudaimasu” is literally the masu form of “tetsudau” and means ‘to help’ or ‘to lend a hand’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “helps” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• musume – 娘 (むすめ) : a noun meaning ‘daughter’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• 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 “musume” to make the subject in the sentence.
• tamani – たまに : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘occasionally’ in Japanese.
• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “tetsudaimasu”. 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 good option.

Tetsudatta: the ta form of “tetsudau”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tetsudatta”.

• tetsudatta – 手伝った (てつだった) : the ta form of “tetsudau”, which means ‘helped’ or ‘lent a hand’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tetsudatta” consists of the following two parts:

• tetsudat – 手伝っ (てつだっ) : one conjugation of “tetsudau”. 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 “tetsudatta” is literally the ta form of “tetsudau” and means ‘helped’ or ‘lent a hand’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “helped” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ore – 俺 (おれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• shigoto – 仕事 (しごと) : a noun meaning ‘work’, ‘job’, or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “tetsudatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “tetsudau”, this ta form is the best option.

Tetsudatte: the te form of “tetsudau”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tetsudatte”.

• tetsudatte – 手伝って (てつだって) : the te form of “tetsudau”, which means ‘to help’ or ‘to lend a hand’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tetsudatte” consists of the following two parts:

• tetsudat – 手伝っ (てつだっ) : one conjugation of “tetsudau”. 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 “tetsudatte” is literally the te form of “tetsudau”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “tetsudatte” is very useful when we want to use “tetsudau” 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

Below is the new word 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, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “tetsudatte” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “tetsudatte”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “tetsudau” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Tetsudaeba: the ba form of “tetsudau”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “tetsudaeba”.

• tetsudaeba – 手伝えば (てつだえば) : the ba form of “tetsudau”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to help’ or ‘to lend a hand’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tetsudaeba” consists of the following two parts:

• tetsudae – 手伝え (てつだえ) : one conjugation of “tetsudau”. 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 “tetsudaeba” is literally the ba form of “tetsudau”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “tetsudaeba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to help’ or ‘to lend a hand’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if help” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• okane – お金 (おかね) : a noun meaning ‘money’ in Japanese.
• kasegeru – 稼げる (かせげる) : a verb meaning ‘to earn’ or ‘to make (money)’ in Japanese.
• yo – よ : a sentence-ending particle used to state the fact or idea in a soft way. As the definition suggests, this is used at the end of the example sentence to state the speaker’s idea softly.

This is a typical usage of “tetsudaeba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kare no shigoto wo tetsudaeba”, which means ‘if you help him with his work’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to help’ or ‘to lend a hand’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “tetsudau” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• tetsudau – 手伝う (てつだう) : a verb meaning ‘to help’ or ‘to lend a hand’ in Japanese.
• tetsudawanai – 手伝わない (てつだわない) : the nai form of “tetsudau”, which means ‘not to help’ or ‘not to lend a hand’ in Japanese.
• tetsudaou – 手伝おう (てつだおう) : the volitional form of “tetsudau”, which expresses volition to help or lend a hand.
• tetsudaimasu – 手伝います (てつだいます) : the masu form of “tetsudau”, which means ‘to help’ or ‘to lend a hand’ politely in Japanese.
• tetsudatta – 手伝った (てつだった) : the ta form of “tetsudau”, which means ‘helped’ or ‘lent a hand’ in Japanese.
• tetsudatte – 手伝って (てつだって) : the te form of “tetsudau”, which means ‘to help’ or ‘to lend a hand’ in Japanese. When we want to use “tetsudau” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• tetsudaeba – 手伝えば (てつだえば) : the ba form of “tetsudau”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to help’ or ‘to lend a hand’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.