助けてください
tasukete kudasai
In Japanese, the phrase for "please help" is 助けてください (tasukete kudasai).
助けてください is used to make a request for assistance specifically when someone is in trouble or in a dangerous situation.
Which one should you use?
Do not confuse 助けてください with 手伝ってください. While 助けてください is for rescue/emergencies, 手伝ってください is used for requesting assistance with a task or chore.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard form is 助けてください. For a very urgent, blunt and informal cry for help, you can use 助けて！ If you want to ask for help more casually among friends, you can use 助けてくれる？ In formal situations, if you wish to emphasize the inconvenience caused to the other person, you can say お手数ですが、お願いできますか？ For a formal request for cooperation, use ご協力をお願いいたします. Adding the honorific prefixes お or ご to a request adds politeness.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ください (kudasai) is added to the te-form of a verb to make a polite request.
How do you pronounce it?
tasukete kudasai
Did you know?
- The term 助け舟を出す (dasukebune o dasu) literally means 'to put out a rescue boat' but is used as an idiom for providing a helpful hint during a conversation.
- The polite ending ください (kudasai) comes from the verb 'to give', meaning you are literally asking the other person to 'give' you the act of saving.
- While English speakers might say 'Help me!' to a stranger, Japanese etiquette often dictates that you address the person by their role, such as 'Police officer, please help' to be more effective.
Examples in context
- 助けてください。Please help me.This example shows how to use 助けてください.Tatoeba #1039551 by bunbuku, translation #262424 by CK
- 誰か、私を助けてください。Someone, please help me.This example demonstrates how to say "Someone, please help me" using 助けてください.Tatoeba #1627245 by mookeee, translation #1627241 by Spamster
- 申し訳ありませんが、この荷物を持っていただけませんか。お手数ですが、お願いできますか？I'm sorry to bother you, but could you please help me carry this luggage?
- プレゼンテーションの準備で困っています。ご協力をお願いいたします。I'm having difficulties with the presentation preparation. Please help me.
- レポートの書き方がわからない！助けて！I don't know how to write the report! Help me!
- このゲームで詰まってしまった。助けてくれる？I'm stuck in this game. Can you help me?
- 道に迷ったので、助けてください。Michi ni mayotta node, tasukete kudasai.I am lost, so please help me.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui is stuck in a crowded train and cannot get out.
- 結衣 Yuiすみません、動けません。助けてください！Sumimasen, ugokemasen. Tasukete kudasai!Excuse me, I can't move. Please help me!
- 蓮 Ren大丈夫ですか？今、扉を開けますね。Daijoubu desu ka? Ima, tobira o akemasu ne.Are you okay? I'll open the door now.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます、本当に助かりました。Arigatou gozaimasu, hontou ni tasukarimashita.Thank you, you really helped me.
- 蓮 Renいえ、怪我はなくて良かったです。Iie, kegan wa nakute yokatta desu.No problem, I'm glad you're not hurt.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
