傍人 (bàng rén) is a verb meaning 'to rely on others'—especially for support, resources, or decision-making—often with a slightly negative connotation suggesting lack of independence or self-reliance. The character 傍 (bàng) originally means 'to be beside' or 'to lean against', and 人 (rén) means 'person'; together, they evoke the image of leaning physically or figuratively on another person. It’s commonly used in critiques of dependency, such as in education, career choices, or daily life.

This expression appears more frequently in spoken Mandarin and informal writing than in formal contexts. It’s rarely used in isolation; instead, it often appears in phrases like 不要傍人 ('don’t rely on others') or 傍人过日子 ('live by depending on others'). While similar to 依靠 (yīkào), 傍人 carries a stronger implication of passive dependence and is less neutral—sometimes hinting at laziness or avoidance of responsibility.