手伝えない

cannot help

→ 手伝う
手伝え Potential form (can do) + ない Negative
verb · potential Rare #33,569
cannot help
JA: 忙しくて、今日は手伝えない。
EN: I'm busy, so I can't help today.
Conjugation of 手伝う
Potential
手伝える手伝えない

忙しいから手伝えない

I'm busy, so I can't help you.

トム忙しくて手伝えないのよ

Tom is busy right now, so he can't help.

忙しいから手伝えない

I’m busy right now, so I can’t help you.

だが呼吸手伝えない

But I can't help you breathe.

— 雪山の絆 (2023)

手伝えないと言ったはずだ

I thought I told you I couldn't help.