有赖于 (yǒu lài yú) — to depend on, to rely on (formal)

Definition

Formal verb meaning 'depends on / rests on' — used in writing about causes, conditions, or cooperation, not everyday speech. Compare 取决于, which emphasizes choice or decision; 有赖于 stresses that a positive outcome hinges on something.

verb
to depend onto rely on (formal)

Examples

  • 有赖于。
    Chéng gōng yǒu lài yú nǔ lì.
    Success depends on hard work.
  • 有赖于。
    Wèn tí de jiě jué yǒu lài yú dà jiā de hé zuò.
    Solving the problem depends on everyone's cooperation.
  • 有赖于。
    Zhè xiàng jì huà de shí shī yǒu lài yú zú gòu de zī jīn zhī chí.
    The implementation of this plan depends on sufficient financial support.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

有赖having reliance
有yǒuhave赖làireliance
动宾Verb + object
于yúon

有赖 (having reliance) and 于 (on) give the sense of depending on something.

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 賴; 赖 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowry
Sound part声符shēngfú
剌
剌là賴lài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 賴 uses 貝 (a cowry) for profit and 剌 for the sound; the simplified 赖 is a shorthand.

Open 赖 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

Open 于 →

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