助けて
tasukete[ta̠sɨ̥ke̞te̞]
The English phrase "save me" is translated into Japanese as 助けて (tasukete).
助けて is a plea for help used when someone is in danger or facing a difficult situation. It is specifically used for physical danger or life-threatening situations, and it is distinct from words used for helping someone with a task, such as 手伝って.
What does it mean word for word?
助けて comes from the verb 助ける, meaning 'to save' or 'to help', in its te-form.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding ください to the end of 助けて to make 助けてください makes the plea more polite and formal. The form 助けて itself acts as a short, imperative-style request used in urgent or casual situations.
How do you pronounce it?
tasukete
Did you know?
- In extreme emergencies, people may omit the て sound entirely and simply shout 助け (tasuke), which is the noun for 'help'.
- Japanese has a specific concept called 助け合い (tasuke-ai), which refers to the cultural ideal of mutual aid and helping one another within a community.
- The verb 助ける is used not only for physical rescue but also in the phrase 助かる, which is commonly said to express gratitude when someone saves you a lot of trouble.
Examples in context
- 助けて！Tasukete!Help me!
- 誰か、助けてください！Dareka, tasukete kudasai!Someone, please save me!
Example conversation
Youta is stuck in a narrow space and cannot get out.
- 陽太 Yota結衣、助けて！Yui, tasukete!Yui, save me!
- 結衣 Yui陽太、どうしたの？大丈夫？Youta, doushita no? Daijoubu?Youta, what happened? Are you okay?
- 陽太 Yota体が動かないんだ。Karada ga ugokanainda.I can't move my body.
- 結衣 Yui今すぐ助けに行くね。Ima sugu tasuke ni iku ne.I'll come to save you right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 助けて, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
