A1 Collocation Neutral

کمک کردن

Komak kardan

To help

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).
🤝 + 🛠️ = 💖

Explanation at your level:

At this level, 'komak kardan' is a basic tool. It's like 'to help' in English. You use it to ask for things or offer simple aid. You just need to know that 'komak' is the noun and 'kardan' is the action. Remember to say 'be' before the person you are helping.
You can now use 'komak kardan' in different tenses like the past (kardam) and future (khāham kard). You start to understand that it's a compound verb. You can use it to describe your daily routine, like helping your parents or helping a friend with homework.
At the intermediate level, you use 'komak kardan' for more abstract concepts. You might say a specific strategy 'helps' your business or a habit 'helps' your health. You also begin to distinguish between 'komak kardan' and more formal synonyms like 'yāri kardan' in reading.
You are now comfortable with the nuances of 'Ta'arof' associated with this phrase. You know how to insist on helping and how to gracefully accept help. You can use the phrase in complex sentences with multiple clauses and understand its role in social bonding.
You analyze 'komak kardan' as a light verb construction (LVC). You understand the productivity of the 'noun + kardan' pattern in Persian morphology. You can discuss the socio-linguistic implications of 'mutual aid' in Iranian history using this terminology and recognize it in classical prose.
You have mastered the cognitive linguistics behind the phrase. You understand how 'komak' functions as a semantic prime in the Persian worldview. You can use the phrase with native-level irony, sarcasm, or deep poetic resonance, and you understand its etymological journey from Indo-Iranian roots.

Meaning

To give assistance or support to someone.

🌍

Cultural Background

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!

Meaning

To give assistance or support to someone.

🎯

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.

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'kardan' in the present tense.

من به دوستم کمک ______.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: می‌کنم

The sentence starts with 'Man' (I), so the present tense form is 'mikonam'.

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

How do you say 'Help me'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: به من کمک کن

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.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کمک

The context of a heavy book implies offering help.

Match the Persian phrase to its English meaning.

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کمک مالی = Financial help, کمک کن! = Help!, کمک می‌خواهی؟ = Do you want help?, کمک کردم = I helped

These are common variations of the phrase.

🎉 Score: /4

Visual Learning Aids

Formal vs Informal Help

Informal
کمک کردن To help
Formal
یاری کردن To aid

Frequently Asked Questions

12 questions

It 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'.

Related Phrases

🔄

یاری کردن

synonym

To aid/assist

🔗

نجات دادن

similar

To save/rescue

🔗

همکاری کردن

builds on

To cooperate

🔗

مساعدت کردن

specialized form

To provide assistance

🔗

پشتیبانی کردن

similar

To support

Where to Use It

🛒

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.)

informal
💻

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.)

neutral
📍

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?)

neutral
🍕

With Friends

Friend: کمک می‌خواهی پیتزا درست کنیم؟ (Do you want help making pizza?)

You: بله، ممنون! (Yes, thanks!)

informal
🎁

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.)

formal
🆘

Emergency

Person in trouble: کمک! کمک! (Help! Help!)

Bystander: چه شده؟ الان کمک می‌کنم! (What happened? I'm helping now!)

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Komak' as 'Come-Back'. When you help someone, you 'Come Back' to support them.

Visual Association

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.

Word Web

یاریمساعدتهمکارینجاتخیرخواهدستگیریپشتیبانی

Challenge

Today, find one person (online or offline) and ask them 'Komak mikhāy?' (Do you want help?) or offer 'Komak mikonam' (I will help).

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Ayudar

Persian requires the preposition 'be' (to), similar to 'ayudar a'.

French high

Aider

Persian's compound structure is more like 'faire de l'aide'.

German moderate

Helfen

German conjugates the whole verb; Persian only conjugates the 'kardan' part.

Japanese moderate

手伝う (Tetsudau)

Japanese has more specific verbs for different types of help.

Arabic high

ساعد (Sa'ada)

Persian 'komak' is of Indo-European origin, while 'sa'ada' is Semitic.

Chinese high

帮助 (Bāngzhù)

Chinese doesn't use a 'light verb' like 'kardan'.

Korean moderate

돕다 (Dopda)

Korean uses honorifics to change the verb form based on who you help.

Portuguese high

Ajudar

Portuguese often uses 'dar uma ajuda' (give a help), which is closer to the Persian compound structure.

Easily Confused

کمک کردن vs کمک گرفتن

Learners confuse 'doing help' (giving) with 'taking help' (receiving).

Remember: 'Kardan' = You are the helper. 'Gereftan' = You are being helped.

کمک کردن vs خدمت کردن

Both involve doing something for someone.

'Khedmat' is 'to serve' (like in the military or a shop), while 'Komak' is 'to assist'.

FAQ (12)

It 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'.

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