需要帮助
xūyào bāngzhù
In Chinese, 'need help' is expressed as 需要帮助 (xūyào bāngzhù).
The phrase 需要帮助 is used to indicate that one requires assistance to complete a task or solve a problem. It is appropriate for general assistance, such as needing help with homework, as well as for more urgent situations, such as being lost.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 需要 (xūyào), which means 'to need' or 'to require' and 帮助 (bāngzhù), which means 'help' or 'assistance'.
Which one should you use?
While 需要帮助 is a general statement of needing assistance, the more direct way to say 'help me' is 帮我. For immediate or life-threatening danger, you should use 救命啊 instead of a general request for assistance.
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the statement 'need help' into the question 'Do you need help?', you add the question particle 吗 (ma) to the end of the phrase, resulting in 需要帮助吗？
How do you pronounce it?
xūyào bāngzhù
Did you know?
- The character 帮 (bāng) in 'help' originally referred to a group of people or a 'gang', reflecting the idea that assistance comes from collective support.
- In Chinese culture, asking for 帮助 (bāngzhù) can sometimes be avoided to save 'face' for both parties, as it acknowledges a lack of ability or an imposition on others.
- To make a request for help sound even less demanding, speakers often use the phrase 麻烦你 (máfan nǐ), which literally tells the other person you are 'troubling' them.
Examples in context
- 我需要帮助。I need help.This sentence uses 需要帮助 to express a personal need for help.Tatoeba #7768354 by jiangche, translation #582309 by CM
- 你需要帮助吗？Do you need help?This sentence shows how to turn the phrase into a question using the particle 吗.Tatoeba #1424333 by sadhen, translation #2053918 by halfb1t
- 出来，我需要帮助。Come out here. I need help.This sentence uses 需要帮助 to express a need for help in a specific location.Tatoeba #9958163 by GlossaMatik, translation #3162187 by CK
- 你能帮我个忙吗？Can you do me a favor?
- 嘿，能帮帮忙吗？Hey, can you help me out?
- 救命啊！我迷路了！Help! I'm lost!
Example conversation
Wei sees Xiaowen struggling with a heavy shopping bag.
- 伟 Wei晓雯，你需要帮助吗？Xiǎowén, nǐ xūyào bāngzhù ma?Xiaowen, do you need help?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen是的，这袋子太重了。Shì de, zhè dài zi tài zhòng le.Yes, this bag is too heavy.
- 伟 Wei我来帮你拿吧。Wǒ lái bāng nǐ ná ba.Let me help you carry it.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen谢谢你，伟。Xièxiè nǐ, Wěi.Thank you, Wei.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
