1.
helping others; lending a hand
The act of helping other people, especially strangers or those in need. Often implies a selfless or charitable spirit.
Composed of 人 (person/people) + 助け (help). The compound refers specifically to the act of helping other people, carrying connotations of kindness and altruism. Often used when praising someone's good deeds or discussing charitable behavior.
Common collocations
- 人助けをする: to help others
- 人助けだと思って: thinking of it as helping someone out
- 人助けの精神: spirit of helping others
Usage
Often appears in the phrase 人助けだと思って, used when asking someone for a favor — literally "think of it as helping someone" — as a way of making a request seem more like an act of charity than a burden.