依赖
Traditional: 依賴
yī lài HSK 6

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

孩子依赖父母的照顾。
Háizi yīlài fùmǔ de zhàogù.
Children are dependent on their parents' care.
经济依赖出口增长。
Jīngjì yīlài chūkǒu zēngzhǎng.
The economy relies on export growth.
他依赖药物控制病情。
Tā yīlài yàowù kòngzhì bìngqíng.
He depends on medication to control his condition.
我依赖父母。
Wǒ yīlài fùmǔ.
I rely on my parents.
他依赖朋友。
Tā yīlài péngyou.
He depends on friends.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 依 (yī) means 'to lean on' or 'according to,' and 赖 (lài) means 'to rely on.' Together, they reinforce the idea of 'leaning on and relying on' something—a double emphasis on dependence.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese. It frequently appears in contexts discussing economics, technology, psychology, and interpersonal relationships to describe dependencies (e.g., economic dependence, emotional dependence).

📖 Grammar Points

It is often used in the pattern 'A 依赖于 B' (A depends on B). It can be modified by adverbs like 高度 (highly), 过度 (excessively), or 完全 (completely). It can also function as a noun in some contexts, as in '产生依赖' (to develop a dependence).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In modern Chinese discourse, reducing '技术依赖' (technological dependence) or '进口依赖' (import dependence) is often discussed as a national strategic goal, reflecting a cultural value on self-reliance and security.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 依靠 (yīkào, 'to rely on'), 依赖 often carries a stronger connotation of necessity and sometimes a negative nuance of over-reliance or helplessness. 依靠 is more neutral and can imply active reliance on support. 信赖 (xìnlài) means 'to trust' and focuses on faith in someone's reliability.

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