“帮(bāng)”, “帮助(bāng zhù)” and “帮忙(bāng máng)”

can all be translated to “help” in English. However, they are meant to be used differently. So, what are their differences? What is the grammatically correct way to say this sample sentence “I need your help to buy me a cup of coffee.” in Chinese? Let’s read to find out more!

帮(bāng)

This is the most common and casual way to say “help” in Chinese in our daily lives. In English, the word class for “help” can both be a verb and a noun. However, in Chinese, “帮” functions only as a verb rather than a noun.

Referring to our sample sentence on top, if you say “我需要你帮买咖啡” (I need your help to buy me a coffee), it would be wrong. Instead, you should say “我需要你帮我买一杯咖啡。”. Thus, the correct grammatical structure for this word is [“帮”+ sb. + verb + sth.] as seen in the following examples:

• 你可以帮我搬家吗？(Could you help me move house？)

• 谢谢你帮我接电话。(Thank you for picking up that call for me.)

• 如果没有你帮我订闹铃，我可能会迟到。(If you did not help me set the alarm, I could have been late.)

  
  
  

帮助(bāng zhù)

“帮助” is more formal than “帮”. “帮助” is made up of “帮” which means “help” and “助” which also means “assist or help”. When they are combined to form a word, that made it more appropriate to use in a formal register.

“帮助” does not use together with a verb because it stresses on the people who need help. Like “帮”, they are both transitive verbs that can have a direct object following them. The correct grammatical structure is: [帮助 + sb.].

• 我喜欢帮助别人。(I like to help others.)

• 政府应该帮助无家可归的人。(Government should help the homeless people.)

In addition, “帮助” can be a noun whereas “帮” does not function as a noun when it comes to the meaning of “help”.

• 谢谢你的帮助。（Thank you for your help.）

• 我需要你的帮助。(I need your help.)
  

帮忙(bāng máng)

Similar to “帮”, “帮忙” is also relatively casual and often used in our daily lives. However, it is quite different from the above two because this word is a combination of verb and object.

In “帮忙”, “帮” is a verb which means “help” while “忙” is a noun which means “problem/issue/favor”, therefore we do not need to add another verb behind “帮忙”. This is known as “离合词(lí hé cí)” or “separable word” in Chinese grammar. Since it is separable, it confuses many Chinese language learners. It is not a transitive verb like the other two, thus it cannot be followed by an object. Using the sample sentence as an example, it would be wrong to say “我需要你帮忙我买一杯咖啡。”.

So how do we use it? You either use it at the back of a sentence or you may use it in these grammatical structures: [帮 + sb. 的忙] and [帮 + sb. 一个（大）忙]. Let’s look at some examples:

• 他明天搬家，我要去帮忙。 (He’s moving out tomorrow, I will go and help him.)

• 他要去帮老师的忙，不来吃晚饭了。(He’s going to do a favor for his teacher, so he’s not coming for dinner.)

• 你能帮我一个忙吗？(Could you do me a favor?)

  
  

In summary, the usage of the three words “帮(bāng)”, “帮助(bāng zhù)” and “帮忙(bāng máng)” can be quite different. To internalize what you have learned in this post, we have created a table for your reference:

Understanding the grammatical rules of these three words is crucial for accurately and authentically conveying the concept of "help" in Chinese. If you're looking to enhance your grasp of Chinese grammar, consider exploring both group and private learning options available at Hanhai Language Studio, tailored specifically for adult learners. These packages are designed to bolster your command of Chinese grammar, making your journey of studying Chinese in Singapore more effective and enjoyable. Additionally, keep an eye on our blog for the latest updates on Chinese grammar, cultural insights, learning resources, and a wealth of other valuable information to help you excel in mastering this foreign language