help /help/ I. n.［u］帮助，帮忙：This dictionary is of great help to me.这本字典对我有很大的帮助。with the help of…在…帮助下，借助: With the help of the government, the villagers built a power station.在政府的帮助下，村民们建成了一座发电站。 ‖II.vt.& vi.帮助，帮忙 （作vt.时跟名词/代词、带to或不带to的不定式以及带to或不带to的不定式的复合结构）: They did everything they could to help the fatherland. 他们尽一切力量帮助自己的祖国。Take this medicine. It will help you (to)get better.把药吃掉。这样会使你的病好些的。You will be helped to improve your English. 你会得到帮助来提高英语水平。Exercises in the morning help (to) build our bodies. 早晨锻炼有助于增强体魄。She often helps old people across the street.她常常搀扶老人过街。He said he would be delighted to help him over all his difficulties.他说他会很高兴地帮助他度过难关的。help out 帮助克服困难；帮助从…里面出来：Her comrades helped her out when she became ill. 她生病的时候，她的同志们都来帮助她解决困难。The taxi-driver helped the old man out of the car.出租汽车司机扶那老人下车。 help sb. with sth. 帮助某人做某事：Please come and help grandma with her things. 来帮奶奶搬东西。help yourself to 请自己动手夹菜吃，尽管请便： Help yourself to all you wish.你要吃什么就拿什么好了。 can’t help doing sth. 禁不住做某事，不由得不做某事：We can’t help laughing when listening to the cross-talk.我们听相声时都会情不自禁地大笑。
［辨析］help 和 assist常可通用，但assist比较正 式，并暗指被帮助人能做部分工作。help既可用于被帮助人亦可有所作为，还能用于被帮助人完全处于无能为力的境地，如：help (=save) someone who is drowning; help/assist someone who is moving a piano. aid也是个正式用词，往往是援助一群人，尤其是出钱帮助。如: aid for developing countries 援助发展中国家
helpful /ˈhelpful/ adj. 1. 有帮助的：The experience might be very helpful to her. 这经验对她也许有用。2. 有益的，建设性的：helpful criticism 有益的批评；helpful suggestions 建设性建议
helpless /ˈhelplis/ adj. 无助的，(处于)毫无办法(的境地)，无可奈何：He stood helpless, not knowing what to do. 他无可奈何地站着，不知道干什么好。We were helpless in that situation. 处于那种形势，我们是一点办法也没有。
