‘依赖’ (yī lài) is a compound word meaning 'to depend on' or 'reliance'. The first character 依 (yī) conveys 'to follow', 'to rely upon', or 'to be attached to'; the second character 赖 (lài) adds nuance of 'depending on something or someone for support or function', often implying necessity or habitual reliance. Together, they form a word that emphasizes psychological, physical, or functional dependence — not just casual preference but a state where one cannot easily function without the other.

This term appears frequently in medical, psychological, and social contexts — for example, describing drug dependence, emotional reliance on a partner, or technological dependency in modern life. It carries a slightly neutral-to-negative connotation when used alone, suggesting vulnerability or lack of autonomy, though context can soften this (e.g., children’s healthy dependence on caregivers). It commonly follows subjects like people, systems, or substances, and often pairs with verbs like ‘产生’ (to develop), ‘减少’ (to reduce), or ‘摆脱’ (to break free from).