Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Persian compound verb for offering or asking for assistance in any daily situation.
- Means: To help or provide assistance to someone.
- Used in: Asking for directions, finishing tasks, or charitable acts.
- Don't confuse: Avoid using 'dadan' (to give); always use 'kardan' (to do).
Erklärung auf deinem Niveau:
Bedeutung
To give assistance or support to someone.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Helping is often linked to the concept of 'Lotf' (favor/kindness). When you help someone, they might say 'Lotf kardid' (You did a favor). In Islam, which is the predominant religion in Iran, helping the poor (Zakat/Khoms) is a mandatory pillar. 'Komak be fagarā' (helping the poor) is a common phrase. On Iranian social media, hashtags like #کمک (Help) or #همدلی (Empathy) are used during national crises like earthquakes to organize volunteer efforts. If you are a guest in an Iranian home and try to help with the dishes, the host will almost certainly refuse multiple times. This is Ta'arof. You should insist if you really want to help!
The 'Be' Rule
Always remember the preposition 'be'. It's the hallmark of a natural Persian speaker.
Don't over-Ta'arof
If someone is in real danger, don't wait for them to decline your help three times. Just help!
The 'Be' Rule
Always remember the preposition 'be'. It's the hallmark of a natural Persian speaker.
Don't over-Ta'arof
If someone is in real danger, don't wait for them to decline your help three times. Just help!
Shouting for help
If you are in trouble, just yell 'Komak!' repeatedly. People will come running.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'kardan' in the present tense.
من به دوستم کمک ______.
The sentence starts with 'Man' (I), so the present tense form is 'mikonam'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
How do you say 'Help me'?
You must use the preposition 'be' (to) and the imperative 'kon'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: این کتاب سنگین است. B: اجازه بدهید به شما ______ کنم.
The context of a heavy book implies offering help.
Match the Persian phrase to its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are common variations of the phrase.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formal vs Informal Help
Aufgabensammlung
5 Aufgabenمن به دوستم کمک ______.
The sentence starts with 'Man' (I), so the present tense form is 'mikonam'.
How do you say 'Help me'?
You must use the preposition 'be' (to) and the imperative 'kon'.
A: این کتاب سنگین است. B: اجازه بدهید به شما ______ کنم.
The context of a heavy book implies offering help.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are common variations of the phrase.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenIt is neutral and can be used in any context, from a street market to a business meeting.
It's better to avoid it. 'Komak kardan' is the standard compound verb.
You say 'Man be komak niyāz dāram' or more simply 'Komak mikhāham'.
'Komak' is everyday language; 'yāri' is poetic and literary.
Yes, if you are helping 'to' a cause or a person. 'Be kheyrieh komak mikonam'.
Say 'Mitunam behetun komak konam?' (Can I help you?)
Yes, 'ye dast miresuni?' is a common way to ask for a hand.
Yes, 'In dāru be man komak kard' (This medicine helped me).
It is 'komak kardam' (I helped).
It is 'be man komak kon'. 'Komak-e man' means 'my help' (noun phrase).
Absolutely, it's the most common word for charitable giving.
Say 'Dar in kār be man komak kon'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
یاری کردن
synonymTo aid/assist
نجات دادن
similarTo save/rescue
همکاری کردن
builds onTo cooperate
مساعدت کردن
specialized formTo provide assistance
پشتیبانی کردن
similarTo support
Wo du es verwendest
At the Grocery Store
Old Lady: این سبد خیلی سنگین است. (This basket is very heavy.)
You: اجازه بدهید به شما کمک کنم. (Allow me to help you.)
In the Office
Colleague: من نمیتوانم این فایل را باز کنم. (I can't open this file.)
You: من به تو کمک میکنم. (I will help you.)
Asking for Directions
You: ببخشید، میتوانید به من کمک کنید؟ (Excuse me, can you help me?)
Stranger: بله، کجا میخواهید بروید؟ (Yes, where do you want to go?)
With Friends
Friend: کمک میخواهی پیتزا درست کنیم؟ (Do you want help making pizza?)
You: بله، ممنون! (Yes, thanks!)
Charity Event
Organizer: لطفاً به کودکان نیازمند کمک کنید. (Please help children in need.)
Donor: من میخواهم کمک مالی کنم. (I want to give financial help.)
Emergency
Person in trouble: کمک! کمک! (Help! Help!)
Bystander: چه شده؟ الان کمک میکنم! (What happened? I'm helping now!)
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of 'Komak' as 'Come-Back'. When you help someone, you 'Come Back' to support them.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine two hands clasped together in a firm grip, pulling someone up a mountain. The mountain is the task, and the grip is 'Komak'.
Rhyme
Komak kon, dosti ro mohkam kon! (Help out, make the friendship strong!)
Story
A traveler was lost in the desert. He shouted 'Komak!' A kind villager heard him and decided to 'Komak kardan' (do help). They shared bread and tea, and now they are best friends.
In Other Languages
Similar to the English 'to do a favor' or the French 'prêter main-forte' (to lend a strong hand). In many languages, 'help' is a single verb, but Persian's compound structure is like 'doing help'.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Today, find one person (online or offline) and ask them 'Komak mikhāy?' (Do you want help?) or offer 'Komak mikonam' (I will help).
Review the present stem 'kon' today, in 3 days, and in 1 week. It's the most important part!
Aussprache
The 'o' is short like in 'go', and 'æ' is like the 'a' in 'cat'.
Both 'æ' sounds are like the 'a' in 'cat'.
Formalitätsspektrum
آیا میتوانید به من کمک کنید؟ (Āyā mitavānid be man komak konid?) (Asking for a favor)
میتونی به من کمک کنی؟ (Mituni be man komak koni?) (Asking for a favor)
کمکم میکنی؟ (Komakam mikoni?) (Asking for a favor)
یه دست میرسونی؟ (Ye dast miresuni? - Literally: Can you reach a hand?) (Asking for a favor)
Derived from the Persian noun 'komak' (help/aid) and the light verb 'kardan' (to do). 'Komak' itself has roots in Middle Persian 'hômâg'.
Wusstest du?
The word 'komak' is so fundamental that it is one of the first words children learn, often used when they want to participate in 'adult' tasks.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Helping is often linked to the concept of 'Lotf' (favor/kindness). When you help someone, they might say 'Lotf kardid' (You did a favor).
“خیلی لطف کردید که کمک کردید. (You did a great favor by helping.)”
In Islam, which is the predominant religion in Iran, helping the poor (Zakat/Khoms) is a mandatory pillar. 'Komak be fagarā' (helping the poor) is a common phrase.
“کمک به فقرا ثواب دارد. (Helping the poor has spiritual merit.)”
On Iranian social media, hashtags like #کمک (Help) or #همدلی (Empathy) are used during national crises like earthquakes to organize volunteer efforts.
“برای کمک به زلزلهزدگان به این آدرس بروید. (Go to this address to help earthquake victims.)”
If you are a guest in an Iranian home and try to help with the dishes, the host will almost certainly refuse multiple times. This is Ta'arof. You should insist if you really want to help!
“خواهش میکنم، بگذارید کمک کنم! (Please, let me help!)”
Gesprächseinstiege
میتوانید به من کمک کنید؟
آخرین باری که به کسی کمک کردی کی بود؟
به نظر تو، چطور میتوانیم به محیط زیست کمک کنیم؟
اگر کسی از تو کمک بخواهد و وقت نداشته باشی، چه میگویی؟
Häufige Fehler
من تو را کمک میکنم.
من به تو کمک میکنم.
L1 Interference
کمک دادن
کمک کردن
L1 Interference
من کمک کردم او.
من به او کمک کردم.
L1 Interference
کمک کن من!
به من کمک کن!
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Ayudar
Persian requires the preposition 'be' (to), similar to 'ayudar a'.
Aider
Persian's compound structure is more like 'faire de l'aide'.
Helfen
German conjugates the whole verb; Persian only conjugates the 'kardan' part.
手伝う (Tetsudau)
Japanese has more specific verbs for different types of help.
ساعد (Sa'ada)
Persian 'komak' is of Indo-European origin, while 'sa'ada' is Semitic.
帮助 (Bāngzhù)
Chinese doesn't use a 'light verb' like 'kardan'.
돕다 (Dopda)
Korean uses honorifics to change the verb form based on who you help.
Ajudar
Portuguese often uses 'dar uma ajuda' (give a help), which is closer to the Persian compound structure.
Spotted in the Real World
“کمک کن، کمک کن، نذار بمونم اینجا”
A famous duet about seeking help and solidarity in a difficult world.
“میتونی بیای به من کمک کنی؟”
Nader asking for help to take care of his elderly father.
“#کمک_به_خیریه”
Common hashtag for fundraising and social support.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners confuse 'doing help' (giving) with 'taking help' (receiving).
Remember: 'Kardan' = You are the helper. 'Gereftan' = You are being helped.
Both involve doing something for someone.
'Khedmat' is 'to serve' (like in the military or a shop), while 'Komak' is 'to assist'.
Häufig gestellte Fragen (12)
It is neutral and can be used in any context, from a street market to a business meeting.
usage contextsIt's better to avoid it. 'Komak kardan' is the standard compound verb.
grammar mechanicsYou say 'Man be komak niyāz dāram' or more simply 'Komak mikhāham'.
practical tips'Komak' is everyday language; 'yāri' is poetic and literary.
comparisonsYes, if you are helping 'to' a cause or a person. 'Be kheyrieh komak mikonam'.
grammar mechanicsSay 'Mitunam behetun komak konam?' (Can I help you?)
practical tipsYes, 'ye dast miresuni?' is a common way to ask for a hand.
usage contextsYes, 'In dāru be man komak kard' (This medicine helped me).
usage contextsIt is 'komak kardam' (I helped).
grammar mechanicsIt is 'be man komak kon'. 'Komak-e man' means 'my help' (noun phrase).
grammar mechanicsAbsolutely, it's the most common word for charitable giving.
cultural usageSay 'Dar in kār be man komak kon'.
practical tips
