How to say “can you help me” in Chinese
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Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
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Tone tip
能 (néng) rises and 帮 (bāng) stays high and flat; beginners often let 帮 fall. Adding 一下 (yíxià) softens the ask. Use 能 for favours and permission; 会 (huì) is for learned skills, not favours.
In a sentence
Bùhǎoyìsi, nǐ néng bāng wǒ yíxià ma?
Sorry to bother you, could you help me for a moment?
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
How do you say "can you help me" in Chinese?+
"can you help me" in Mandarin Chinese is 你能帮我吗, pronounced nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma. 能 (néng) rises and 帮 (bāng) stays high and flat; beginners often let 帮 fall. Adding 一下 (yíxià) softens the ask. Use 能 for favours and permission; 会 (huì) is for learned skills, not favours.
What does 你能帮我吗 mean literally?+
你能帮我吗 breaks down as 你 (nǐ) = you, 能 (néng) = can / be able to, 帮 (bāng) = to help, 我 (wǒ) = me, 吗 (ma) = (yes/no question particle). Together it means "can you help me".
How do I get the tones right in nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?+
能 (néng) rises and 帮 (bāng) stays high and flat; beginners often let 帮 fall. Adding 一下 (yíxià) softens the ask. Use 能 for favours and permission; 会 (huì) is for learned skills, not favours.
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