Taxonomy of meanings for 助:
- 助 zhù (OC: zrasʔʔ MC: dʐiɔ) 牀據切 去 廣韻：【佐也益也牀據切三 】
- TAX
- from persons
of high status>TRIBUTE
- ntribute system
- function>HELP
- nsubjectthat which helps
- nabacthelp, aid, assistance
- v[adN]helper, accomplice; assistance; something that helps
- v[adN]nonreferentialone who helps, supporter
- vt(oN)offer help to the contextually determinate person(s)
- vt+V[0]help to, assist to V
- vtoN.+VV in aid of N
- vtoNaid; help (Heaven to do evil); support; give moral support
- vtoNcontinuousbe in general of help to
- vtoNpassivebe given support
- vtt(oN.)+V[0]to help (a contextually determinate object) to do something
- vttoN.+V[0]pivotto help (somebody or something) to do something
- vtoNderivedsupport and strengthen a natural processCH
- from persons
of high status>TRIBUTE
- TAX
- 助 ｃｈｕ２《集韻》〓魚切，平魚崇。魚部。
Additional information about 助
說文解字: 【助】，左也。 〔小徐本「左」作「佐」。〕 从力、且聲。 【牀倨切】
- Criteria
- MUTUAL
1. The current general word for mutuality between any number of agents is jiāo 交 which can refer to multiple mutual relations entertained or joined into by any given agent.
2. Xiāng 相 refers to mutuality but not necessarily reciprocity between two agents and the mutuality does not have to be contemporaneous (NB: the word even more often acts as an object pronouns). Thus X may do something to Y, and Y to Z, and this constellation would allow for the use of xiāng 相, as in the phrase xiāng jì 相繼 or xiāng suí 相隨 "1. follow one another; (but note also the here irrelevant 2. followed him/her/them)". Moreover, xiāng zhù 相助 does not imply synchronised or contemporaneous help: X may help Y at one time, and Y may help X at another time, and this collaboration will qualify for xiāng zhù 相助.
3. Hù 互 refers specifically to reciprocity of interaction between two agents, and the reciprocity of interaction must occur at the same time.
- HELP
1. The most general current word for helping someone else to perform a task is probably zhù 助 (ant. zǔ 阻 "hinder") which can refer to support given to men or other creatures.
2. Yuán 援 typically refers to spontaneous unsolicited and enthusiastic help.
3. Zuǒ 佐, yòu 佑 (deriving their meaning from the position of aides near the ruler), and also fǔ 輔 refer to official assistance in a formal context.
4. Fú 扶 is specifially help to those much in need of support.
5. Yì 益 (ant. sǔn 損 "act to hinder someone's progress") refers to support for someone who is already fairly well equipped for the task he or she gets support for.
6. Jiǎ 假 refers to - not necessarily overt - discreet support.
7. Zī 資 refers primarily to providing material support, but the word came to have common wider, generalised applications.
8. Jì 濟 refers to acute help for a current difficult task.
9. Yòu 祐 is a very ancient word referring specifically to assistance afforded by supernatural forces.
- HINDER
1. The current general word for putting obstacles in the way of something or someone is zǔ 阻 (ant. zhù 助 "help"). See also BLOCK
2. Jǔ 沮 (ant. quàn 勸 "encourage") refers to failing to support someone else and dissuading him from pursuing an intended course of action.
3. Zhàng 障 refers to putting a permanent hindrance in the way of something.
4. Ài 礙 refers to an action designed to prevent another action, but the word gained currency quite late.
5. Jù 距 / 拒 refers to an action designed to counteract another action that has been undertaken.