Definition
靠得住 is a fixed resultative phrase (V得C structure) meaning 'reliable' or 'trustworthy'. It literally means 'can count on it to hold steady', formed by the verb 靠 ('rely on') plus the potential complement 得住 ('able to stay firm'). The source pinyin lists kào dé but the actual pronunciation is kào de zhù, with a neutral tone on 得 and full tone on 住. Use it to describe people, organizations, or things that you can depend on.
r.v.
reliabletrustworthysomeone or something you can count on
Examples
- 靠得住，。Zhè wèi péngyou hěn kào dé, nǐ jǐnguǎn xiāngxìn tā.This friend is very reliable — you can trust him.
- 靠得住。Wǒmen xūyào yí gè kào dé de hézuò huǒbàn.We need a trustworthy business partner.
- ，靠得住。Zhè tái jīqì yòng le shí nián, réngrán kào dé.This machine has been used for ten years and is still dependable.
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