1.
mutual aid; mutual assistance
The practice of people helping each other. A formal term used for organized systems of mutual support, such as community aid groups, insurance cooperatives, and social welfare frameworks.
地域の互助が大切だ。
Mutual aid in the community is important.
互助の精神で助け合いましょう。
Let's help each other in the spirit of mutual aid.
災害時には近隣住民の互助が重要な役割を果たす。
During disasters, mutual aid among neighboring residents plays an important role.
USAGE:
Often appears in the context of Japan's disaster preparedness framework, which distinguishes between 自助 (self-help), 互助/共助 (mutual/community aid), and 公助 (public assistance). Also used for mutual aid associations (互助会).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 互助の精神 (spirit of mutual aid)
- 互助会 (mutual aid association)
- 互助制度 (mutual aid system)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 共助: communal aid — similar but emphasizes community-level cooperation
- 自助: self-help — helping oneself
- 公助: public assistance — government aid