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March 24, 2026
依yī(yi1)
The character 依 (yī) primarily means 'to depend on' or 'to rely on.' It conveys a sense of compliance or adherence to something or someone, often used in contexts where support or guidance is sought. It can also indicate following rules or being in accordance with something.
Strokes8Radical亻Frequency#4251DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, dependence on family and societal structures is emphasized, making the concept of 依 particularly significant. It reflects the traditional values of respecting hierarchy and following the guidance of elders.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person leaning against a tree, showing their dependence on it for support. The character 依 has a radical that resembles a person (亻) leaning on another object (衣), symbolizing reliance. This visual helps connect the pronunciation 'yī' with the idea of leaning or depending.
Meanings of 依
yī(yi1)
1to depend on
2to comply with or listen to sb
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 依
依Simplified
8Strokes
亻Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#4251Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 依
Podcast: 依
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AI Study Notes for 依
Quick Contrast
依 (yī) vs 凭 (píng) — use 依 when emphasizing dependence or reliance on someone or something, while 凭 is more about relying on evidence or basis.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person leaning against a tree, showing their dependence on it for support. The character 依 has a radical that resembles a person (亻) leaning on another object (衣), symbolizing reliance. This visual helps connect the pronunciation 'yī' with the idea of leaning or depending.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 依 with similar sounding characters like 医 (yī, doctor) or 以 (yǐ, to use). 依 is often used in formal contexts when discussing rules or guidelines, so learners should be aware of its register. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can completely change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 依 is not listed in the HSK levels, it connects well to other basic vocabulary regarding dependence and compliance, such as 依赖 (yīlài, to rely on) and 依据 (yījù, basis). Students should focus on understanding its applications in sentences and its usage with other characters.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, dependence on family and societal structures is emphasized, making the concept of 依 particularly significant. It reflects the traditional values of respecting hierarchy and following the guidance of elders.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 依 with 以 (yǐ) leading to sentences like '我依你的意见' (Wǒ yǐ nǐ de yìjiàn) instead of the correct '我依照你的意见' (Wǒ yīzhào nǐ de yìjiàn). Ensure to use the appropriate character for the context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 依
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Grammar Patterns of 依
依 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Under the agreement the Vietnamese can opt out at any time.
Cultural Notes for 依
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, dependence on family and societal structures is emphasized, making the concept of 依 particularly significant. It reflects the traditional values of respecting hierarchy and following the guidance of elders.
Word Family of 依
Words Containing This Character20
依然yīránstill
依靠yīkàoto depend on
依yīto depend on
依据yījùbasis依據
依旧yījiùas before依舊
依法yīfǎlegal (proceedings)
依赖yīlàito depend on依賴
依照yīzhàoaccording to
依次yīcìin order
依托yītuōto rely on依託
依我看in my opinion
依附to adhere
依偎to nestle against
依恋to cling to依戀
相依为命xiāngyīwéimìnginterdependent相依為命
皈依to convert to (a religion)
依稀vaguely
依存dependent on
无依无靠orphaned無依無靠
相依to be interdependent
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 依然 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 依
While both 依 (yī) and 依赖 (yīlài) relate to dependence, 依 is a more general term that can mean 'to depend on' or 'to comply with.' In contrast, 依赖 specifically emphasizes a stronger sense of reliance or dependence, often used in contexts of emotional or financial dependency.
Yes, 依 is often used in both formal and informal contexts. In legal and formal documents, it is common to see phrases like '依照法律' (Yīzhào fǎlǜ), meaning 'in accordance with the law.' Its versatility makes it suitable for various types of communication.
依 (yī) means 'to depend on' or 'to rely on.' It can also imply compliance, as in listening to someone or adhering to certain guidelines. This character is often used in contexts where one is following rules or depending on something.
You can use 依 in sentences to express dependence or compliance. For example, '我依赖我的家人' (Wǒ yīlài wǒ de jiārén) means 'I depend on my family.' Another example is '依照计划行事' (Yīzhào jìhuà xíngshì), meaning 'Act according to the plan.'
You can say '我依靠我的朋友' (Wǒ yīkào wǒ de péngyǒu) which means 'I rely on my friend.'
Synonyms include 依赖 (yīlài, to depend on) and 根据 (gēnjù, according to) depending on the context.
Yes, phrases like 依照 (yīzhào, according to) and 依旧 (yījiù, still) are commonly used.
