依 (yī) — (verb) to rely on, to depend on; (verb) to comply with, to obey; (preposition) according to, in the light of
Definition
Mostly written/formal. As a preposition 依 means 'according to' — close to 按照 but literary. As a verb it means 'rely on / obey', stronger and more formal than 依靠.
verb
to rely onto depend onto comply withto obey
preposition
according toin the light of
Easily confused
Examples
- 。Zhè ge hái zi cóng xiǎo méi yǒu fù mǔ kě yǐ yī kào.This child has had no parents to rely on since childhood.
- ，。Jì rán nǐ yuàn yì yī cóng tā, nà jiù bié zài bào yuàn le.Since you're willing to obey him, then stop complaining.
- ，。yī Wǒ kàn, zhè ge fāng àn hái xū yào xiū gǎi.In my view, this plan still needs revision.
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.
依 is made from 亻, a person, plus 衣, which gives its sound.
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