依靠 (yī kào) — (verb) to rely on, to depend on; (noun) support… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

依靠 can be both a verb ('rely on') and a noun ('support/backing'). As a verb it pairs with people or things as the object; 依赖 is heavier and stresses emotional or habitual dependence.

verb

to rely onto depend on

noun

supportbacking

Examples

依靠。
Nǐ bù néng zǒng shì yī kào bié rén.
You can't always rely on others.
依靠。
Gōng sī de fā zhǎn yī kào dà jiā de nǔ lì.
The company's growth relies on everyone's hard work.
，依靠。
Fù mǔ lǎo le, zǐ nǚ jiù chéng wéi tā men de yī kào.
When parents get old, their children become their support.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

靠kàolean on

依 and 靠 both convey leaning or depending, so 依靠 means to rely on.

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.

亻衣依

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.

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

告非靠

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

告

告gào靠kào

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

靠 is made of 告 and 非: 告 gives the sound, and 非 gives the meaning.

Appears in

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