依赖 (yī lài) — to depend on; to be dependent on | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

依赖 highlights a need-based reliance, often emotional or habitual (depending on a parent, the internet). 依靠 is a more neutral 'rely on' for support; 取决 means a result hinges on a factor.

verb

to depend onto be dependent on

Examples

依赖。
Tā cóng xiǎo jiù hěn yī lài mǔ qīn.
He has depended on his mother since he was young.
，依赖。
Xiàn dài shè huì, wǒ men hěn yī lài hù lián wǎng.
In modern society, we depend a lot on the internet.
依赖。
Nǐ bù néng yì zhí yī lài bié rén lái jiě jué nǐ de wèn tí.
You can't always depend on others to solve your problems.

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yīdepend

赖làirely on

依 and 赖 both express depending or leaning on, so 依赖 means to depend 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.

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.