support / counsel
Loading your saved state.
support
Support, help, or comfort that one gives to a person in a difficult situation or emergency.
In dieser schweren Zeit leisteten ihm seine Freunde moralischen Beistand.
During this difficult time, his friends gave him moral support.
The word is made up of 'bei' (by, beside) and 'Stand' (from 'stehen', to stand). It literally describes the act of 'standing by someone's side' in a difficult situation.
Danke, dass du mir in dieser schweren Zeit beigestanden hast.
Thank you for standing by me during this difficult time.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. 'Beistand' (support) as abstract help is uncountable and is often used with adjectives like 'moralisch' (moral) or 'psychologisch' (psychological). 'Beistand' (counsel) as a person is countable and is usually specified with 'juristisch' (legal) or 'rechtlich' (legal).
Sie bot ihrer Freundin nach der Trennung emotionalen Beistand.
She offered her friend emotional support after the breakup.
When expressing who is being helped, that person or group is in the dative. The most common construction is 'jemandem (Dativ) Beistand leisten' (to give someone support).
Die Nachbarn leisteten der Familie nach dem Brand sofort Beistand.
The neighbors immediately gave the family support after the fire.
In the legal meaning as a person, 'Beistand' (counsel) is almost always combined with an adjective. Typical phrases are 'juristischer Beistand' (legal counsel), 'rechtlicher Beistand' (legal counsel), or 'anwaltlicher Beistand' (attorney counsel).
Minderjährige benötigen vor Gericht einen gesetzlichen Beistand.
Minors need a legal guardian in court.
help
'die Hilfe' and 'der Beistand' both mean that someone is being supported. 'Hilfe' is the normal, general word and fits almost all everyday situations. 'Beistand' sounds more serious and personal. It is used especially when someone in a difficult situation needs comfort, protection, or support. In addition, 'Beistand' can also mean a person who provides legal help. In everyday life, people usually say 'Hilfe'; 'Beistand' fits more in situations of need, problems, grief, or legal contexts.
Nach dem Unfall brauchte die Familie den Beistand von Freunden und Nachbarn.
After the accident, the family needed the support of friends and neighbors.
Das Team bietet den neuen Teilnehmern am Morgen Hilfe bei der Anmeldung an.
In the morning, the team offers the new participants help with registration.