‘依靠’ is a verb meaning ‘to rely on’ or ‘to depend on’ someone or something for support, help, or stability. The character 依 (yī) conveys the idea of ‘to follow closely’ or ‘to comply with’, while 靠 (kào) means ‘to lean against’ or ‘to be supported by’. Together, they form a vivid image of physical or emotional leaning — like leaning on a wall for balance, or depending on a person’s guidance or resources. It implies trust and necessity, often suggesting that the subject cannot easily function without the object of reliance.

This word is commonly used in personal, familial, academic, or professional contexts — for example, children relying on parents, students relying on teachers, or a startup relying on investor funding. It carries a neutral-to-slightly-formal tone and appears frequently in both spoken and written Chinese. Unlike more casual synonyms like 指望 (zhǐwàng), 依靠 suggests active, ongoing dependence rather than mere hope or expectation.