補助動詞(ほじょどうし)

ほじょどうし
noun
auxiliary verb; helper verb (grammar)
academiclanguage
1. auxiliary verb; helper verb attached to another verb
A grammatical term for a verb that attaches to another verb's te-form and adds a nuance of aspect or direction instead of its own literal meaning: いる in 食(た)べている, おく in 買(か)っておく, しまう in 忘(わす)れてしまう, and also みる, いく, くる, and the giving verbs in 手伝(てつだ)ってあげる. Helper verbs are normally written in kana.
「食(た)べている」の「いる」は補助動詞(ほじょどうし)だ。
The いる in 食べている is an auxiliary verb.
補助動詞(ほじょどうし)はふつう、ひらがなで書(か)く。
Auxiliary verbs are usually written in hiragana.
「〜ておく」や「〜てしまう」のような補助動詞(ほじょどうし)を使(つか)うと、動作(どうさ)のニュアンスを細(こま)かく表(あらわ)せる。
Using auxiliary verbs like ておく and てしまう lets you express the fine nuances of an action.

Composed of 補助(ほじょ) (assistance) + 動詞(どうし) (verb). The term appears in Japanese grammar explanations and textbooks; the verbs it names are among the most frequent forms in everyday speech.

Types

  • Aspect: ている (in progress; resulting state), てある (done and left so), ておく (in advance), てしまう (completely; regrettably), てみる (try)
  • Direction: ていく (away; from now on), てくる (toward; up to now)
  • Favors: てあげる, てくれる, てもらう

Similar words

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The Te-Form Helper Verbs: ている, ておく, てしまう, and More
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Added 2026.9.10 0:24 · Revised 2026.9.10 0:54
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