ji2 laai6倚賴倚赖
Jyutpingji2 laai6
Yaleyí laaih
Definition
To rely on or depend on someone or something else, especially due to a lack of independence.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Carries a negative connotation of being unable to function autonomously or lacking self-sufficiency. It is often used to criticize someone for being overly passive or incapable of making their own decisions. While it can describe a neutral state of needing support, it frequently implies a failure to take personal responsibility.
Examples
Don't rely on your family to do things for you all the time.
He relies on others for everything, how can he be independent?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 依靠, which is more neutral and can describe healthy support systems. Using 倚賴 often sounds like a judgment on the person's character or lack of maturity.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
