Meanings of 依赖
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Podcast: 依赖
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AI Study Notes for 依赖
依赖 (yīlài) vs 依靠 (yīkào) — use 依赖 when emphasizing emotional or psychological dependence, while 依靠 is more about physical reliance or support.
Be careful to use 依赖 in contexts where dependency is clear; it can carry a negative connotation if overused. It is more formal than its synonyms, so use it in written or serious spoken contexts. Common collocations include 经济依赖 (economic dependence) and 过度依赖 (over-dependence).
As an HSK 6 word, 依赖 connects well with other advanced vocabulary related to relationships and support systems. Students should focus on using it in complex sentences and understanding its nuances in different contexts, especially in discussions about dependency.
Learners often confuse 依赖 with 依靠 (yīkào), thinking they are interchangeable. While both mean 'to depend on', 依赖 implies a deeper, often emotional, dependency, while 依靠 can refer to any form of support. For example, saying '我依赖我的朋友' (I depend on my friend) suggests a stronger emotional connection than '我依靠我的朋友' (I rely on my friend).
Pronunciation of 依赖
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Jason Explains 依赖 to You
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Component Characters
How to say to depend on in Chinese
“to depend on” in Chinese is依赖
依赖 (yīlài) means to depend on or be dependent on someone or something for support or resources. It is often used in contexts where someone relies on another for emotional, financial, or physical support, indicating a lack of independence.
When to use 依赖
Be careful to use 依赖 in contexts where dependency is clear; it can carry a negative connotation if overused. It is more formal than its synonyms, so use it in written or serious spoken contexts. Common collocations include 经济依赖 (economic dependence) and 过度依赖 (over-dependence).
依赖 or something close to it
依赖 (yīlài) vs 依靠 (yīkào) — use 依赖 when emphasizing emotional or psychological dependence, while 依靠 is more about physical reliance or support.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 依赖 with 依靠 (yīkào), thinking they are interchangeable. While both mean 'to depend on', 依赖 implies a deeper, often emotional, dependency, while 依靠 can refer to any form of support. For example, saying '我依赖我的朋友' (I depend on my friend) suggests a stronger emotional connection than '我依靠我的朋友' (I rely on my friend).
Write 依赖
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Practice writing 依赖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 依赖
依赖 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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.
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从务实角度来说，音乐电视网的生存____于把年轻人市场卖给广告商。
Pragmatically, MTV's survival depends on selling the youth market to advertisers.
Example Sentences for 依赖 (10)
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Frequently Asked Questions about 依赖
Yes, you can use 依赖 to describe a friendship where one relies on the other for emotional support.
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