yuánzhù: 援助 - Aid, Assistance, Support

• Keywords: yuanzhu, 援助, Chinese help, Chinese aid, assistance in Chinese, support, humanitarian aid, financial aid, 帮助 vs 援助, HSK 5 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the meaning and use of 援助 (yuánzhù), the formal Chinese word for “aid,” “assistance,” or “support.” This page breaks down its characters, cultural context, and practical usage in situations like international relations, disaster relief, and financial aid. Discover how it differs from the more common word 帮助 (bāngzhù) with 10 practical example sentences for beginner and intermediate learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yuánzhù
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To provide aid or assistance, typically in a formal, official, or large-scale context.
• In a Nutshell: 援助 (yuánzhù) is “help” on a macro level. It's not for asking someone to pass the salt. Think of international aid, disaster relief, or government financial assistance. It implies a significant, often organized, effort to support someone or something in serious need.

• 援 (yuán): To help, support, or rescue. The radical on the left, 扌, is the “hand” radical, indicating an action performed with the hands. It signifies reaching out a hand to pull someone up or help them.
• 助 (zhù): To help or assist. The radical on the bottom, 力 (lì), means “power” or “strength.” It suggests lending one's strength to another's cause.

These two characters combine to form a powerful image: reaching out a hand (援) and lending one's strength (助). This combination gives 援助 (yuánzhù) its formal and substantial feel, far beyond a simple favor.

In Chinese culture, helping others is a valued trait, but the language makes a clear distinction between different types of help. 援助 (yuánzhù) is reserved for situations that are serious and often involve an imbalance of resources. A good Western comparison is the difference between “to help” and “to provide aid.” You might “help” a friend move a couch, but a government “provides aid” to a disaster-stricken region. In Chinese, this distinction is much stricter. Using 援助 (yuánzhù) for a small, personal favor would sound overly dramatic and strange. This term reflects a societal understanding of structured support systems. Whether it's the government's role in poverty alleviation (扶贫 fúpín), international diplomacy through foreign aid, or community-organized disaster relief, 援助 (yuánzhù) is the word used in official announcements, news reports, and formal requests. It signifies a level of help that goes beyond personal relationships and enters the realm of social, national, or international responsibility.

You will encounter 援助 (yuánzhù) primarily in formal settings. It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation. Formal / Official Contexts:

• International & Governmental: News reports about one country providing 援助 to another (e.g., humanitarian, economic, or military aid).
• Disaster Relief: Discussions about sending 援助 (supplies, rescue teams, funds) to areas affected by earthquakes, floods, etc.
• Social & Legal: Terms like 法律援助 (fǎlǜ yuánzhù) for “legal aid” or 经济援助 (jīngjì yuánzhù) for “financial aid” are common in official contexts.

Connotation: 援助 (yuánzhù) is overwhelmingly positive and formal. It carries a sense of gravity, importance, and benevolence. The giver of aid is seen as powerful and compassionate, while the receiver is in a state of genuine need.

• Example 1:
• 许多国家向灾区提供了人道主义援助。
• Pinyin: Xǔduō guójiā xiàng zāiqū tígōngle réndàozhǔyì yuánzhù.
• English: Many countries provided humanitarian aid to the disaster area.
• Analysis: This is a classic example of 援助 used in a formal, international context. “Humanitarian aid” is a very common collocation.
• Example 2:
• 如果没有政府的援助，这家公司可能已经破产了。
• Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu zhèngfǔ de yuánzhù, zhè jiā gōngsī kěnéng yǐjīng pòchǎn le.
• English: Without the government's aid, this company might have already gone bankrupt.
• Analysis: Here, 援助 is used as a noun to mean a bailout or official financial assistance.
• Example 3:
• 他因为家庭困难，正在申请大学的经济援助。
• Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi jiātíng kùnnán, zhèngzài shēnqǐng dàxué de jīngjì yuánzhù.
• English: Due to family difficulties, he is applying for the university's financial aid.
• Analysis: 经济援助 (jīngjì yuánzhù) is a set phrase for “financial aid,” a common term in educational and social contexts.
• Example 4:
• 我们呼吁国际社会向难民提供紧急援助。
• Pinyin: Wǒmen hūyù guójì shèhuì xiàng nànmín tígōng jǐnjí yuánzhù.
• English: We call on the international community to provide emergency aid to the refugees.
• Analysis: This sentence uses 援助 in a call to action, highlighting its use in formal appeals and diplomacy.
• Example 5:
• 律师为他提供了免费的法律援助。
• Pinyin: Lǜshī wèi tā tígōngle miǎnfèi de fǎlǜ yuánzhù.
• English: The lawyer provided him with free legal aid.
• Analysis: 法律援助 (fǎlǜ yuánzhù) is the standard term for “legal aid,” showing its use in the professional and legal fields.
• Example 6:
• 谢谢你的援助之手，我们永远不会忘记。
• Pinyin: Xièxiè nǐ de yuánzhù zhī shǒu, wǒmen yǒngyuǎn bùhuì wàngjì.
• English: Thank you for your helping hand; we will never forget it.
• Analysis: 援助之手 (yuánzhù zhī shǒu), literally “hand of aid,” is a common and slightly poetic set phrase for significant help.
• Example 7:
• 联合国援助了那个饱受战争蹂躏的国家。
• Pinyin: Liánhéguó yuánzhùle nàge bǎoshòu zhànzhēng róulìn de guójiā.
• English: The United Nations aided that war-torn country.
• Analysis: This shows 援助 used as a verb, with a major international body as the subject.
• Example 8:
• 医疗队到达后，立即开始了他们的援助工作。
• Pinyin: Yīliáo duì dàodá hòu, lìjí kāishǐle tāmen de yuánzhù gōngzuò.
• English: After the medical team arrived, they immediately began their aid work.
• Analysis: This example demonstrates 援助 as a noun modifying another noun (“aid work”), common in news reporting.
• Example 9:
• 他们婉言谢绝了任何形式的外部援助。
• Pinyin: Tāmen wǎnyán xièjuéle rènhé xíngshì de wàibù yuánzhù.
• English: They politely declined any form of external aid.
• Analysis: This shows that 援助 can be refused, often in contexts of national or organizational pride.
• Example 10:
• 我们需要的是技术援助，而不仅仅是资金。
• Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào de shì jìshù yuánzhù, ér bùjǐnjǐn shì zījīn.
• English: What we need is technical assistance, not just funds.
• Analysis: This specifies the type of aid needed, showing that 援助 is not limited to money but can also refer to expertise and technology.

The most common mistake English speakers make is using 援助 (yuánzhù) for everyday help. It is a “false friend” with the general English word “help.”

• INCORRECT: 你能援助我一下吗？ (Nǐ néng yuánzhù wǒ yíxià ma?)
• Why it's wrong: This sounds incredibly overly formal and dramatic, as if you are asking for a massive bailout or rescue operation just to get a small favor.
• CORRECT: 你能帮我一下吗？ (Nǐ néng bāng wǒ yíxià ma?) or 你能帮个忙吗？ (Nǐ néng bāng ge máng ma?)

Rule of Thumb: If you would say “help” or “give me a hand” in English for a small, personal task, use 帮助 (bāngzhù) or 帮忙 (bāngmáng). If you would say “aid” or “assistance” in a formal, large-scale context (like in a news headline or official document), use 援助 (yuánzhù).

• 帮助 (bāngzhù) - The most common and neutral word for “help.” Can be used in almost any context, formal or informal, but is less formal than 援助.
• 帮忙 (bāngmáng) - A colloquial verb-object phrase meaning “to help” or “do a favor.” Very common in spoken Chinese.
• 支持 (zhīchí) - To support. Often implies moral, emotional, or logistical support rather than direct intervention or rescue. (e.g., “I support your decision.”)
• 救助 (jiùzhù) - To rescue and aid. This word implies more urgency and a life-threatening situation, like saving someone from a fire or from drowning.
• 资助 (zīzhù) - To subsidize or finance. Specifically refers to providing financial aid. It's a more specific type of 援助.
• 协助 (xiézhù) - To assist. A formal word, often used when someone is helping in a secondary or subordinate role to achieve a larger goal.
• 人道主义 (réndào zhǔyì) - Humanitarianism. A concept often paired with 援助, as in 人道主义援助 (réndào zhǔyì yuánzhù).