Various ways to say “Can you help me” in Chinese

The common expressions

你能帮（帮）我吗？ (Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?)

This is a polite and straightforward way to ask for help.

e.g.

我的手机不见了，你能帮帮我吗？(Wǒ de shǒujī bùjiàn le, nǐ néng bāng bāng wǒ ma?) My phone is missing, can you help me?

书太多了，我拿不动，你能帮我吗？(Shū tài duō le, wǒ ná bù dòng, nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?) There are too many books, I can’t carry them, can you help me?

你可以帮（帮）我吗？ (Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?)

This form is equally polite and can be used interchangeably with the first one.

e.g.

这个数学题太难了，你可以帮我吗？(Zhège shùxué tí tài nán le, nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?) This math problem is too difficult, can you help me?

我马上需要完成这个任务，你可以帮我吗？(Wǒ mǎshàng xūyào wánchéng zhège rènwu, nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?) I need to finish this task immediately, can you help me?

The uses in sentences

你能帮我……吗？(Nǐ néng bāng wǒ …… ma?)

e.g.

你能帮我找一下钥匙吗？ (Nǐ néng bāng wǒ zhǎo yīxià yàoshi ma?) Can you help me find the keys?

你能帮我照顾一下孩子吗？ (Nǐ néng bāng wǒ zhàogu yīxià háizi ma?) Can you help me look after the child?

你可以帮我……吗？(Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ …… ma?)

e.g.

你可以帮我搬这个箱子吗？ (Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ bān zhège xiāngzi ma?) Can you help me move this box?

你可以帮我看看这个问题吗？ (Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ kàn kàn zhège wèntí ma?) Can you help me look at this problem?

The extended phrases to express “Can you help me” in Chinese

你能不能帮我一下？ (Nǐ néng bù néng bāng wǒ yīxià?)

This is a slightly less formal way to ask for help.

e.g.

你能不能帮我一下，我的电脑坏了。 (Nǐ néng bù néng bāng wǒ yīxià, wǒ de diànnǎo huài le.) Can you help me? My computer is broken.

你能不能帮我一下，我需要找这本书。 (Nǐ néng bù néng bāng wǒ yīxià, wǒ xūyào zhǎo zhè běn shū.) Can you help me? I need to find this book.

麻烦你帮帮我，可以吗？ (Máfan nǐ bāng bāng wǒ, kěyǐ ma?)

This form uses “麻烦” (máfan), which adds a sense of imposing slightly, making it very polite.

e.g.

麻烦你帮帮我，我需要打开这个文件。 (Máfan nǐ bāng bāng wǒ, wǒ xūyào dǎkāi zhège wénjiàn.) Could you help me? I need to open this file.

麻烦你帮帮我，我忘记了密码。 (Máfan nǐ bāng bāng wǒ, wǒ wàngjì le mìmǎ.) Could you help me? I forgot my password.

请你帮帮我，好吗？ (Qǐng nǐ bāng bāng wǒ, hǎo ma?)

This form adds “please” and is very polite, often used when asking for a favor.

e.g.

请你帮帮我，我迷路了。 (Qǐng nǐ bāng bāng wǒ, wǒ mílù le.) Please help me, I am lost.

请你帮帮我，我的手机没电了。 (Qǐng nǐ bāng bāng wǒ, wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le.) Please help me, my phone is dead.

你能帮个忙吗？ (Nǐ néng bāng gè máng ma?)

This phrase is colloquial and casual, often used among friends or peers.

e.g.

你能帮个忙吗？我不知道怎么填这张表。 (Nǐ néng bāng gè máng ma? Wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme tián zhè zhāng biǎo.) Can you do me a favor? I don’t know how to fill out this form.

你能帮个忙吗？我的车没油了。 (Nǐ néng bāng gè máng ma? Wǒ de chē méi yóu le.) Can you do me a favor? My car is out of gas.

请问你能帮我吗？ (Qǐng wèn nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?)

This is a very polite form, often used when addressing strangers or in formal situations.

e.g.

请问你能帮我找个东西吗？ (Qǐng wèn nǐ néng bāng wǒ zhǎo gè dōngxi ma?) May I ask, can you help me find something?

请问你能帮我解释一下这个问题吗？ (Qǐng wèn nǐ néng bāng wǒ jiěshì yīxià zhège wèntí ma?) May I ask, can you help me explain this problem?

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