Kiokun Logo
🇹🇼🇭🇰🇯🇵🇰🇷
🇨🇳

rely on

HSK 10
lài
ライ
たのむ、たよる、たより
Phonosemantic compound. 貝 represents the meaning and 剌 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "profit". The meaning later shifted to "rely on" and "blame".
Components
Traditional (賴)
slash+ shellfish =
rely on
Phonetic component
slash
slash, cut in two
View phonetic series →
Meaning component
shellfish
In ancient China shells were used as currency.
Simplified (赖)
slash+ sea shell =
depend on
Phonetic component
slash
slash, cut in two
View phonetic series →
Meaning component
bèi sea shell
In ancient China shells were used as currency.
Notes
Historical Evolution
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Clerical
Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Regular
Modern
Chinese
/ [Lài]
surname Lai
/ [lài]
to depend on; to hang on in a place; bad; to renege (on promise); to disclaim; to rat (on debts); rascally; to blame; to put the blame on
Example Sentences