The English word “help” is a rather difficult word to translate. I usually tell my students to remember the following 3.
1. 助（たす）ける: to rescue, to save
Help me!たすけて！（If you need an urgent help, you should shout this!）Got helps those who help themselves天（てん）はみずから助（たす）くる者（もの）を助（たす）く（たすく＝たすける）
2. 手伝（てつだ）う; to assist, to give a hand
Please help me with my homework.
宿題（しゅくだい）を手伝（てつだ）ってください。
I help my mother to cook.母（はは）が料理（りょうり）するのを手伝（てつだ）います。
3. 役（やく）に立（た）つ: to be useful
I’d like to help other people.
人（ひと）の役（やく）に立（た）ちたいです。
I’m delighted to have been able to help.お役（やく）に立（た）ててうれしいです。
I will write about “help” as in “I couldn’t help laughing” at some other time.
