도움을 구하다
seek or ask for help
Meaning
도움을 구하다: “seek help,” “ask for help.” The expression focuses on actively trying to obtain help.
Why this form?
도움을 요청하다 — “request help / request assistance”: more explicit and often more formal; 도움을 구하다 is more natural when talking about going out to seek help without a specific recipient yet.
도와 달라고 하다 — “ask someone to help”: explicitly describes a request addressed to a person; 도움을 구하다 can remain general.
도움을 받다 — “receive help”: describes the result, not the act of seeking it.
Forms not to confuse
도움을 요청하다
경찰에 도움을 요청했어요. — I asked the police for help.
도와 달라고 하다
친구에게 도와 달라고 했어요. — I asked a friend to help me.
도움을 받다
많은 사람에게 도움을 받았어요. — I received help from many people.
Examples
먼저 밖으로 나가 도움을 구하자. — Let’s go outside first and seek help.
근처 사람들에게 도움을 구했어요. — I asked nearby people for help.