Meaning of 依靠
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to rely on; to depend on
How to use 依靠
依靠 works as a verb meaning to rely on someone or something, and as a noun meaning a source of support. It often appears with 自己 (zìjǐ) to talk about self-reliance. Example: 我们要依靠自己。(Wǒmen yào yīkào zìjǐ.) We need to rely on ourselves.
依 (yī) has the person radical 亻 next to 衣 (yī, clothing), like a person staying close to someone, wrapped in their care. 靠 (kào) means to lean against, so 依靠 is a person leaning on someone for support.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write 衣 (yī, clothing) alone instead of 依, forgetting the person radical 亻 on the left. Also, 依 is first tone and 靠 is fourth tone, so do not let 靠 drift into a third tone.
依靠 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
依 yī · to depend on · 8 strokes
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靠 kào · to lean against or on · 15 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 依靠.
| 可靠 | kěkào | reliable |
| 依然 | yīrán | still; as before |
| 靠近 | kàojìn | to be close to; to approach; to draw near |
| 依旧 | yījiù | as before; still; to remain the same |
| 依据 | yījù | according to; basis |
| 依照 | yīzhào | according to; in light of |
| 依法 | yīfǎ | legal (proceedings); according to law |
| 依赖 | yīlài | to depend on; to be dependent on |
| 依次 | yīcì | in order; in succession |
| 相依为命 | xiāngyī-wéimìng | mutually dependent for life (idiom); to rely upon one another for survival; interdependent |
| 靠拢 | kàolǒng | to draw close to |
| 依托 | yītuō | to rely on; to depend on |
Questions about 依靠
What does 依靠 mean?
依靠 (yīkào) means "to rely on; to depend on" and is used as a verb and noun.
How do you write 依靠?
依靠 is made of 2 characters: 依 (8 strokes), 靠 (15 strokes). That is 23 strokes in total.
Is 依靠 an HSK word?
Yes. 依靠 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 依靠 and 依赖?
依靠 (yīkào) is neutral or positive and simply means to rely on someone for support. 依赖 (yīlài) often suggests too much dependence, like being unable to do things on your own.
Can 依靠 be used as a noun?
Yes. As a noun it means a person or thing you can lean on. For example, 孩子是她唯一的依靠 (Háizi shì tā wéiyī de yīkào) means her child is her only support.