Ich brauche Hilfe
The English phrase "I need help" is expressed in German as Ich brauche Hilfe.
You use this phrase to tell someone that you require assistance.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Ich (I), brauche (need) and Hilfe (help).
Which one should you use?
While Ich brauche Hilfe is a statement of your need, the single word Hilfe! is the standard way to shout for immediate assistance in an emergency.
How does it change in a sentence?
When specifying the task you need help with, use the preposition bei followed by a noun or a nominalized verb, such as in Ich brauche Hilfe bei… In the phrase Ich brauche Hilfe, the noun Hilfe is used in the accusative case. However, because it is an uncountable noun in this context, its form does not change from the nominative.
Did you know?
- German has a specific word, Hilfsbereitschaft, which describes the innate willingness or readiness of a person to help others.
- While Ich brauche Hilfe is a direct statement, Germans often use the phrase Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen? to be more polite when asking for assistance from strangers.
- The modern spelling of Hilfe was once a matter of debate. While the form with 'ü', Hülfe, was actually more common in many regions, the version with 'i' became the official standard during the early 20th-century spelling reforms.
Examples in context
- Du denkst, ich brauche Hilfe, oder?You think I need help, don't you?This sentence is useful for questioning someone's perception of your need for assistance.Tatoeba #12662184 by Waldelfe, translation #10776241 by CK
- Ich brauche Hilfe bei der Übersetzung.I need help with the translation.This sentence shows how to express needing help with a specific task like a translation.Tatoeba #10030560 by sakslane, translation #12259763 by sundown
- Ich brauche Hilfe beim Übersetzen dieses Satzes.I need help translating this sentence.This sentence demonstrates how to use the preposition bei when asking for help with an action.Tatoeba #10028786 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10028674 by espamatics
- Entschuldigen Sie, aber ich brauche Hilfe. Könnten Sie mir bitte behilflich sein?Excuse me, but I need help. Could you please assist me?
- Entschuldigen Sie die Störung, aber könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?Excuse the interruption, but could you please help me?
- Entschuldigen Sie die Umstände, aber ist es möglich, dass Sie mir helfen könnten?Apologies for the inconvenience, but is it possible that you could help me?
- Hey, ich brauch' Hilfe. Kannst du mir bitte helfen?Hey, I need help. Can you please help me?
- Entschuldige die Störung, aber kannst du mir bitte helfen?Sorry for the interruption, but can you please help me?
- Tut mir leid, dass ich störe. Könntest du mir helfen?Sorry for bothering you. Could you help me?
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are in a library.
- MaximilianLaura, ich brauche Hilfe mit dieser Matheaufgabe.Laura, I need help with this math problem.
- LauraNatürlich, Maximilian, ich helfe dir gerne.Of course, Maximilian, I am happy to help you.
- MaximilianDanke, das ist sehr nett von dir.Thanks, that is very kind of you.
- LauraKein Problem, wir schaffen das zusammen.No problem, we can do this together.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hilfe, Ich, ich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
