- Basic forms
- 支える — to support; hold up / base form
- 支えます — support; hold up / masu form
- 支えた — supported; held up / ta-form
- 支えて — support and … / te-form
- 支えない — do not support / negative
- 支えれば — if (you) support / conditional
- Common uses
- 家族を支える — support one’s family
- 体を支える — support the body
- 社会を支える — support society
支える(ささえる) is an ichidan verb. It is used for both physical support and emotional or social support.
- 支持 — support
- 支店 — branch office
- 支配 — control; rule
- 支出 — expenditure
- 支援 — assistance
More examples ▼
The original form showed a hand holding a branch, symbolizing support or propping something up. This meaning extended to assistance, structural roles, and divisions like offices or tributaries.
みんなで 彼を 支えました。
We all supported him together.
この支店は 大阪にあります。
This branch office is located in Osaka.
