依附 (yī fù) — to adhere (physically); to stick to; to attach oneself to; to depend on (someone)

Definition

Covers both senses: physical adhering (like 粘/粘贴) and depending on someone for support (like 依赖, but 依附 implies subordination). Compared to 坚守 ("hold fast to a principle"), 依附 often carries a negative sense of relying on someone stronger.

verb
to adhere (physically)to stick toto attach oneself toto depend on (someone)

Examples

  • 依附。
    Zhè zhǒng jiāo shuǐ néng yī fù zài guāng huá de biǎo miàn shàng.
    This glue can adhere to smooth surfaces.
  • 依附,。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù bù xǐ huan yī fù bié rén, zǒng shì zì jǐ jiě jué wèn tí.
    He never liked depending on others since childhood, always solving problems on his own.
  • ,依附。
    Zài zhí chǎng zhōng, yí wèi yī fù shàng si bìng bù néng bǎo zhèng cháng jiǔ fā zhǎn.
    In the workplace, blindly attaching yourself to your boss won't guarantee long-term development.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

依yīlean on
附fùattach

Combines 依 meaning lean on with 附 meaning attach to mean adhere or depend.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénhuman
Sound part声符shēngfú
衣
衣yī依yī
Same sound today

依 is made from 亻, a person, plus 衣, which gives its sound.

Open 依 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
付
付fù附fù
Same sound today

附 pairs 阝, written in full as 阜, with 付 as the sound part.

Open 附 →

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