ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY

to help; assist

zhù
7 strokes · 且 (stacked offerings, sound) + 力 (strength) — strength added on · HSK 2

Where 助 comes from

力 is a plow, the ancient unit of muscle. 且 lends sound and the sense of stacking. 助 is strength stacked onto someone else's effort — help as literally adding your plow to their field.

助 in Chinese culture

The Mencius used 助 for the well-field system: eight families 助 (jointly worked) the public plot in the middle. 互助 mutual aid remains the organizing word of Chinese villages and group chats alike — help is a verb you owe your neighbors.

Example

帮助 bāngzhù — to help

谢谢你的帮助。
Xièxie nǐ de bāngzhù.
Thank you for your help.

How to remember it

Stack 且 your strength 力 onto someone's load — that's HELP.

助攻 'assist' in sports and gaming borrowed 助 — the stat for helping someone else score.

Same sound, different tones

1st zhū
pig
2nd zhú
bamboo
3rd zhǔ
master
4th zhù
to help

Words unlocked by 助

帮助 bāngzhù
to help
互助 hùzhù
mutual aid
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