🔍 帮 bāng vs 帮忙 bāngmáng – What’s the Difference?

🔍 帮 bāng vs 帮忙 bāngmáng – What’s the Difference?

帮 (bāng) and 帮忙 (bāngmáng) both mean “help”, but they’re used in different ways. 

If you’ve ever wondered when to say 帮 (bāng) and when to use 帮忙 (bāngmáng), this blog is for you!

🔍  Breakdown

🟡 帮 (bāng) – to help someone do something

  • Followed by a person or a person + an action.


🟡 帮忙 (bāngmáng) – to give help / to do a favor

  • More general use.
  • Can be followed by an action, but not a person.

💬  Easy Examples

✅  帮 (bāng) – Help someone do something

  • 他帮我学中文。Tā bāng wǒ xué Zhōngwén。
    • 👉🏼 He helps me study Chinese.
    • 帮 (bāng) is followed by a person + an action.
  • 你可以帮我拿一下这个箱子吗？Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ná yíxià zhè ge xiāngzi ma?
    • 👉🏼 Can you help me carry this box?
    • 帮 (bāng) is followed by a person + an action.


      ✅  帮忙 (bāngmáng) – Give help (no person after)

      • 谢谢你帮忙！Xièxie nǐ bāngmáng!
        • 👉🏼 Thank you for helping!
        • 帮忙 (bāngmáng) is used in a general way here.
      • 他在帮忙做饭。Tā zài bāngmáng zuò fàn。
        • 👉🏼 He is helping with cooking.
        • 帮忙 (bāngmáng) is followed by an action, but not a person.

      💡  What’s the Big Difference?

      • 📌 帮 is more direct and followed by a person + an action.
      • 📌 帮忙 is more general and can be followed by an action, but not a person.

      ⚠️ Common Mistakes (Watch Out!)

      ❌ 他帮忙我写作业。Tā bāngmáng wǒ xiě zuòyè。(Wrong!)

      ✅ 他帮我写作业。Tā bāng wǒ xiě zuòyè. → He helps me write homework.

      💡 Why? “帮忙” cannot be directly followed by a person. Use “帮” when you say who is being helped.

      🎯  Interactive Practice

      Choose the correct word: 帮 (bāng) or 帮忙 (bāngmáng)

      1.他正在 ______ 做家务。（Tā zhèngzài ______ zuò jiāwù。）

      • 👉🏻 He is helping with the housework.
      • ✅ Correct answer: 帮忙 (bāngmáng) – This is general help with an action (not a person).


        2. 你可以 ______ 我找手机吗？（Nǐ kěyǐ ______ wǒ zhǎo shǒujī ma?）

        • 👉🏻 Can you help me find my phone?
        • ✅ Correct answer: 帮 (bāng) – You are helping someone do something.


        3. 老师会 ______ 我复习功课。（Lǎoshī huì ______ wǒ fùxí gōngkè。）

        • 👉🏻 The teacher will help me review.
        • ✅ Correct answer: 帮 (bāng) – The teacher is helping me do something.

        ✍🏻  Quick Summary

        • 📌 帮 - Followed by a person or a person + an action.
        • 📌 帮忙 - Can be followed by an action, but not a person.

        ✏️ Your Turn! Try making two sentences — one using 帮 and one using 帮忙. Practice helps you remember faster! 💪

        Happy learning! 🎉