‘依仗’ is a verb meaning ‘to rely on’ or ‘to depend on,’ especially in contexts involving authority, power, influence, or protection from someone or something stronger or more established. The character 依 (yī) means ‘to rely on’ or ‘to follow closely,’ while 仗 (zhàng) originally meant ‘weapon’ but evolved to mean ‘support’ or ‘backing’—hence the combined sense of leaning on another’s strength or status. It often carries a slightly negative or critical connotation, implying overdependence, unfair advantage, or abuse of privilege.

This word is commonly used in formal writing and speech, particularly when describing people who misuse connections—such as officials relying on their superiors’ favor, or businesspeople exploiting political ties. It rarely appears in casual conversation and is almost never used with neutral or positive subjects like family support or personal effort; for those, words like 依靠 (yīkào) or 依赖 (yīlài) are preferred.