lè yú zhù rén: 乐于助人 - Happy to Help Others, Helpful

• Keywords: lèyúzhùrén, 乐于助人, le yu zhu ren, happy to help, helpful in Chinese, Chinese word for helpful, altruistic, Chinese character for altruism, Chinese values, how to say helpful in Chinese, community spirit, Lei Feng
• Summary: Learn about the Chinese idiom 乐于助人 (lè yú zhù rén), which means “happy to help others” or “helpful.” This page breaks down the characters, explores its deep cultural significance tied to Confucian values and community, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Discover why 乐于助人 is more than just being helpful—it's a highly admired character trait in China, reflecting a genuine joy in assisting others.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lè yú zhù rén
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (idiom); Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To take pleasure in helping others; to be altruistic and helpful.
• In a Nutshell: 乐于助人 (lè yú zhù rén) describes a person's fundamental character, not just a single action. It's the quality of finding genuine joy and satisfaction (`乐`) in the act of assisting (`助`) other people (`人`). Someone who is `乐于助人` doesn't help out of obligation, but because it is a natural and happy part of who they are. It's one of the highest compliments you can pay to someone's character in Chinese culture.

• 乐 (lè): Happy, joy, pleasure. This character sets the emotional tone of the entire idiom.
• 于 (yú): A classical grammar particle meaning “in” or “at.” Here, it connects the feeling of “happiness” to the action that follows. Think of it as “to find happiness *in*…”
• 助 (zhù): To help, to assist, to aid. This is the core action.
• 人 (rén): Person, people. This is the object of the help.

Together, these characters literally mean “to be happy in helping people.” The structure emphasizes that the happiness comes *from* the act of helping, making it a profound statement about a person's inner virtue.

乐于助人 is a cornerstone of social virtue in China, deeply rooted in both traditional philosophy and modern ideology.

• Confucian Roots: The concept is a practical expression of 仁 (rén), or “benevolence/humaneness,” a central tenet of Confucianism. A truly virtuous person (`君子`, `jūnzǐ`) is expected to be considerate of others and contribute to social harmony. Being `乐于助人` is a clear manifestation of this ideal.
• Collectivism vs. Individualism: Unlike the Western emphasis on individualism, traditional Chinese culture prioritizes the group (family, community, nation). Being `乐于助人` strengthens the bonds within the collective. It's not just a private virtue but a public good that ensures the smooth functioning and harmony of society.
• Comparison to “Being Helpful”: In the West, being “helpful” can sometimes be transactional or part of a formal role (e.g., a helpful salesperson). `乐于助人` is less about a specific function and more about one's innate disposition. It's closer to “altruism” or “having a community spirit.” You wouldn't describe a useful software as `乐于助人`, as the term is reserved for people who possess this warm, selfless quality.
• The Lei Feng Model: In modern China, the soldier 雷锋 (Léi Fēng) was promoted as a national icon of selflessness and the ultimate example of being `乐于助人`. “The Lei Feng Spirit” (`雷锋精神`, `Léi Fēng jīngshén`) is still taught today as a model for civic virtue.

`乐于助人` is a very positive and slightly formal term used to praise someone's character.

• In Conversation: It's used to describe friends, neighbors, colleagues, and even strangers who go out of their way to help. It's a high compliment.
• Formal Contexts: It frequently appears in letters of recommendation, performance reviews, student reports, and official commendations to describe someone as a model citizen or employee.
• Self-Description: It is considered boastful and unnatural to describe yourself as `乐于助人`. You demonstrate this quality through actions; others use the term to praise you.

• Example 1:
  • 他是一个非常乐于助人的好邻居。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yí ge fēicháng lèyúzhùrén de hǎo línjū.
  • English: He is a very helpful and good neighbor.
  • Analysis: A very common and natural way to praise someone's character. It establishes them as a good person in the community.
• Example 2:
  • 小王在公司里总是乐于助人，所以大家都很喜欢他。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎo Wáng zài gōngsī lǐ zǒngshì lèyúzhùrén, suǒyǐ dàjiā dōu hěn xǐhuān tā.
  • English: Xiao Wang is always happy to help others at the company, so everyone likes him very much.
  • Analysis: This sentence links the trait (`乐于助人`) to a positive social outcome (being liked by everyone).
• Example 3:
  • 谢谢你的帮助！你真是个乐于助人的人。
  • Pinyin: Xièxie nǐ de bāngzhù! Nǐ zhēnshì ge lèyúzhùrén de rén.
  • English: Thank you for your help! You are truly a helpful person.
  • Analysis: Used directly to thank and compliment someone after they have helped you. The phrase `真是个…的人` (zhēnshì ge…de rén) is a common pattern for praise.
• Example 4:
  • 老师在评语里写道，我儿子在学校乐于助人，团结同学。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī zài píngyǔ lǐ xiědào, wǒ érzi zài xuéxiào lèyúzhùrén, tuánjié tóngxué.
  • English: The teacher wrote in the school report that my son is helpful and unites with his classmates at school.
  • Analysis: This shows the term's use in a formal, evaluative context like a school report. `团结同学` (uniting with classmates) is another highly valued trait.
• Example 5:
  • 在中国，乐于助人是一种传统美德。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, lèyúzhùrén shì yì zhǒng chuántǒng měidé.
  • English: In China, being happy to help others is a traditional virtue.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the term itself and its cultural standing. `传统美德` (chuántǒng měidé) means “traditional virtue.”
• Example 6:
  • 不管谁遇到困难，她都会伸出援手，真是乐于助人。
  • Pinyin: Bùguǎn shéi yùdào kùnnan, tā dōu huì shēn chū yuánshǒu, zhēnshì lèyúzhùrén.
  • English: No matter who runs into trouble, she always lends a helping hand; she's truly so helpful.
  • Analysis: `伸出援手` (shēn chū yuánshǒu) - “to extend a helping hand” - is a common action associated with a `乐于助人` person.
• Example 7:
  • 我们需要更多乐于助人的志愿者来支持这次活动。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào gèng duō lèyúzhùrén de zhìyuànzhě lái zhīchí zhè cì huódòng.
  • English: We need more helpful volunteers to support this event.
  • Analysis: Here, `乐于助人` is used as an adjective to describe the *kind* of volunteers that are needed—not just people filling a role, but people with a genuinely helpful spirit.
• Example 8:
  • 从小父母就教育我要做一个乐于助人的善良孩子。
  • Pinyin: Cóngxiǎo fùmǔ jiù jiàoyù wǒ yào zuò yí ge lèyúzhùrén de shànliáng háizi.
  • English: Since I was little, my parents taught me to be a kind and helpful child.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how the value is passed down through generations. It's often paired with `善良` (shànliáng), meaning “kind-hearted.”
• Example 9:
  • 他的乐于助人为他赢得了同事们的尊重。
  • Pinyin: Tā de lèyúzhùrén wèi tā yíngdéle tóngshìmen de zūnzhòng.
  • English: His helpfulness won him the respect of his colleagues.
  • Analysis: Here, `乐于助人` functions as a noun (“helpfulness,” “altruism”) that is the subject of the sentence.
• Example 10:
  • 如果你看到有人需要帮助，我希望你能乐于助人。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ kàndào yǒurén xūyào bāngzhù, wǒ xīwàng nǐ néng lèyúzhùrén.
  • English: If you see someone who needs help, I hope you can be happy to help them.
  • Analysis: A rare case where it can be used in a prescriptive way, as advice or an expression of hope for someone's behavior. It's softer than a command.

• Trait, Not a Single Act: A common mistake is using `乐于助人` to describe one specific act of helping. It's a long-term personality trait.
  • Incorrect: 我丢了钱包，他帮我找到了。他很乐于助人。 (Wǒ diūle qiánbāo, tā bāng wǒ zhǎodàole. Tā hěn lèyúzhùrén.) - This feels abrupt.
  • Correct: 我丢了钱包，他帮我找到了。谢谢他的帮助！(Wǒ diūle qiánbāo, tā bāng wǒ zhǎodàole. Xièxie tā de bāngzhù!) - “Thank you for his help!” is more appropriate for a single event. If you know he *always* does things like this, then you could say he is `乐于助人`.
• Avoid Self-Praise: Saying “我是一个乐于助人的人” (Wǒ shì yí ge lèyúzhùrén de rén) is grammatically correct but sounds arrogant and self-congratulatory in Chinese culture, which values modesty. Let your actions speak for themselves, and let others praise you with this term.
  • Instead of saying “I'm helpful,” just say: “有什么需要帮忙的吗？” (Yǒu shénme xūyào bāngmáng de ma?) - “Is there anything I can help with?”
• “Helpful” False Friend: The English word “helpful” can describe objects (a helpful tool), information (a helpful tip), or people. 乐于助人 can only describe people and their character. It contains an emotional component (“joy”) that “helpful” lacks.

• 帮助 (bāngzhù) - The general verb/noun for “to help” or “help.” `乐于助人` is the *quality* of liking to `帮助`.
• 助人为乐 (zhù rén wéi lè) - A very close synonym. Its structure is “helping people is joy,” while `乐于助人` is “happy to help people.” The meaning is virtually identical.
• 善良 (shànliáng) - Kind-hearted, good. Often used together with `乐于助人` to describe a person's excellent character.
• 热情 (rèqíng) - Enthusiastic, warm, passionate. A `乐于助人` person is often also very `热情`.
• 无私 (wúsī) - Selfless. A stronger, more absolute term. `乐于助人` is a practical form of selflessness.
• 雷锋精神 (Léi Fēng jīngshén) - The “Lei Feng Spirit.” The official, state-promoted ideology of selfless service, with `乐于助人` as its core.
• 古道热肠 (gǔdào rècháng) - A more literary idiom meaning “chivalrous and warm-hearted,” sharing a similar spirit of enthusiastically helping others.
• 为人民服务 (wèi rénmín fúwù) - “To serve the people.” A famous political slogan from Mao Zedong that encapsulates the idea of helping others on a grand, societal scale.