() - to lean on & to rely on

Tone 3

yǐ | 10 strokes | radical:

·

to lean on;

to rely on;

to depend on;

biased;

partial

to lean onto rely onto depend on

Usage highlights

to lean onto rely onbiasedto lean against the railingto depend onto lean on a cane

Synonyms

  • to lean on; to rely on
  • to depend on; according to
  • to rely on; to depend on

Antonyms

  • to stand (without support)
  • independent; alone

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She leaned against the wall (倚墙).
  • He relies on his parents for support (倚靠父母).
  • The old man walks with a cane (倚杖而行).
  • The poem expresses a feeling of melancholy (倚声填词).

Collocations

  • to lean on(倚靠)
  • to rely on(倚赖)
  • biased(偏倚)
  • to lean against the railing(倚栏)
  • to depend on(倚仗)
  • to lean on a cane(倚杖)

Idioms

  • To rely on power to bully others(倚势凌人)
  • To rely on talent and act arrogantly(倚才傲物)
  • To lean on the door and look forward(倚门而望)
  • To lean on each other for survival(相依为命)
  • To rely on power and act arbitrarily(倚官仗势)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese literature, '倚' often appears in poetic contexts describing figures leaning against objects in contemplation or melancholy.
  • The character carries connotations of dependence and support, but can also imply bias or partiality when used in certain contexts.
  • In traditional Chinese music and poetry, '倚声' refers to the practice of composing lyrics to fit existing musical tunes.

FAQ