help、aid、assistance与support这些名词均有“帮助、支持”之意。
help : 最普通用词，可以与 aid 和 assistance 换用。help 强调使受助者达到目的或侧重受助者对帮助的需要。
- None of this would have been possible without their help.
如果没有他们的协助，这事没有一样能办成。 - She stopped smoking with the help of her family and friends.
她在家人和朋友的帮助下戒了烟。
aid 比 help 正式，侧重受助者处于困难或危险境地急需救助。
- economic/humanitarian/emergency aid
经济 / 人道主义 / 紧急援助 - An extra £10 million in foreign aid has been promised.
额外的1 000万英镑外国援助款项已得到保证。 - aid agencies (= organizations that provide help)
救援机构 - medical aid programmes
医疗援助计划
assistance : 正式用词，通常指帮助完成不太重要的那一部分工作。
- technical/economic/military assistance
技术 / 经济 / 军事援助 - financial assistance for people on low incomes
给低收入者的经济援助
support : 强调在迫切需要时给予支持或鼓励。
- It was hard to come to terms with her death after all the support she gave to me and the family.
她曾经给予我和家人莫大的帮助，她的死讯令人难以接受。
