倚 (yǐ) — to lean on (physically); to rely on (figuratively)
Definition
倚 (yǐ) is a literary/formal verb for 'lean on' or 'rely on' — more common in writing than the everyday 靠. 拄 is the specific verb for leaning on a stick.
verb
to lean on (physically)to rely on (figuratively)
Easily confused
- 骑qílook-aliketo ride (a horse, bike, or other vehicle one sits astride)
- 以yǐsound-alike(preposition) by means of; using
- 已yǐsound-alikealready (formal, written)
- 乙yǐsound-alikesecond of the ten Heavenly Stems (天干); second in order; B
- 矣yǐsound-alike(classical particle, sentence-final) indicates a change of state, completion, or new situation (equivalent to modern 了)
Examples
- 倚。Tā yǐ zhe lán gān kàn hǎi.He leaned on the railing to look at the sea.
- 倚。Tā yǐ lài jiā rén de zhī chí.He relies on his family's support.
- 。Zhè ge fāng àn yǐ kào shù jù fēn xī.This plan relies on data analysis.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
倚 has 亻, a form of 人 (person), on the left and 奇 (qí) on the right; 奇 gives the sound.
Appears in
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