[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: QaH

[Steven Boozer]

Klingon word: QaH
Part of speech: noun
Definition: help
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QaH!  nom QaH yIqem! 
Help! Get help quickly!  (CK)

See the homophonous verb {QaH} "help,  aid":

qaQaH 
I help you. KLS 

ghoQaH 
[Help us! {untranslated) ST6, during the attack on Kronos One]

QaHqang 
He/she is willing to help. KGT

choQaHpu' 
You have helped me. KGT

batlh muQaHpu' 
He/she has helped me in an honored way. 
He/she has helped me with honor. KGT

QaH yaS wa'DIch 
The first officer helps. KGT 

tugh QInvam lulaDlaH ghojwI'pu' chu' 'ej QaHnISbe' jatlhwI'pu' po'qu'. 
[(untranslated) Maltz/Okrand to 12th qepHom'a' students]

qaQaH DaneHbe'chugh... 
If you don't want my help... (PB)

tlhIngan Do'Ha' vIQaHlaH'a' 
Can I help a fellow Klingon in need? PB

luqara' retlhwIjDaq yIba'neS
    'ej lutwIj yIQoy
    choQaHlaw'   (PB)

LANGUAGE NOTES:

(MO > De'vID, 10/2017):   Regarding {QaH} and {boQ} - There's a good deal of overlap, and either one can be used in many (maybe most) situations. The main difference is really one of connotation. In general, {QaH} would be used in situations where the person needing help can't do whatever needs to be done without assistance of some kind, while {boQ} would be used in situations where the person might be able to do the task alone, but it's easier or better or more efficient if someone helps out.
    The object of {boQ} (the recipient of the aid) retains responsibility for the activity being aided. The person {boQ}-ing is secondary (though not necessarily unimportant!). The object of {QaH} can't do whatever it is alone, so responsibility falls to the person {QaH}-ing (or responsibility is shared).
    Someone who falls into a river and is unable to swim would not shout out {HIboQ!}. Someone who can't reach the top shelf would probably ask another person for {boQ} to get something down from the shelf (even though the task could be done alone if the person used a stepladder or stool or something). If the person tried it alone and boxes toppled down from the top shelf onto the person, immobilizing him/her, you'd probably hear the buried person ask for {QaH}. 
    It would be odd to use {QaHwI'} to refer to an administrative aide; that's a {boQ}.
    A parent probably wouldn't {QaH} a child with a homework assignment. 
    There is nothing weak about asking for {QaH} (when help is warranted), but an offer to {QaH} in a situation where you'd expect to hear an offer to {boQ} may sometimes be mildly insulting, implying that the offerer questions the offeree's ability to do something.
    Having said all of that... The distinction is not always clear nor does it always matter, which is why the words are mostly interchangeable. 
    "Assist" would probably be translated as {boQ} most of the time. Other than in a few contexts, both "help" and "aid" could be translated as either {boQ} or {QaH}. 
     (David's {boQwI'} app is aptly named.)


SEE ALSO:
boQ 		aid, assistance (n)
qeS 		advice (n)

boQ 		assist (v)
qeS 		advise (v)

vuy 		be helpful, supportive (v)
- {jIvuylaH. jIve'.}  I am here to help you. (STID)

--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons