手伝う
てつだう
to help
Tetsudau (手伝う) is a godan verb meaning "to help". Its polite form is 手伝います (tetsudaimasu), its te form is 手伝って (tetsudatte), its past form is 手伝った (tetsudatta), and its negative form is 手伝わない (tetsudawanai).
Godan verbJLPT N4
Tetsudau (手伝う) conjugation quick reference
手伝う means "to help". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Tetsudau example sentences
母を手伝います。
I help my mother.
昨日、友だちを手伝いました。
I helped my friend yesterday.
弟は手伝いません。
My younger brother doesn't help.
How to use Tetsudau: grammar notes
•Use を after the thing or person you're helping — for example, 「母を手伝う」 means "help my mom."
•Don't use に after the person you're helping — it's a common mistake; stick with を instead.
•To politely ask someone to help, you can say 「手伝ってください」 which means "Please help (me/us/etc.)."
•JLPT N4 level
Common phrases with Tetsudau
手伝ってください。
Please help me.
何か手伝いましょうか？
Shall I help with something?
宿題を手伝ってくれる？
Can you help me with my homework?
Tetsudau (手伝う) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 手伝う | tetsudau |
| Masu Form | 手伝います | tetsudaimasu |
| Te Form | 手伝って | tetsudatte |
| Past Form | 手伝った | tetsudatta |
| Negative Form | 手伝わない | tetsudawanai |
| Past Negative | 手伝わなかった | tetsudawanakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 手伝います | tetsudaimasu |
| Polite Past | 手伝いました | tetsudaimashita |
| Polite Negative | 手伝いません | tetsudaimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 手伝いませんでした | tetsudaimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 手伝える | tetsudaeru |
| Passive Form | 手伝われる | tetsudawareru |
| Causative Form | 手伝わせる | tetsudawaseru |
| Causative Passive | 手伝わされる | tetsudawasareru |
| Volitional Form | 手伝おう | tetsudaou |
| Imperative Form | 手伝え | tetsudae |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 手伝えば | tetsudaeba |
| Conditional (たら) | 手伝ったら | tetsudattara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 手伝っている | tetsudatteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 手伝いたい | tetsudaitai |
| Prohibition | 手伝うな | tetsudauna |