Explore 依 in words about asking, depending and a situation that continues. Learn each word in context.

The idea

依 has 8 strokes; follow the linked diagram. In 依頼（いらい）, 依存（いぞん） and 依然（いぜん）, 依 is read い. 依頼する asks someone to do something; 依存する expresses dependence.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
依頼いらいI asked a lawyer for advice.
依存いぞんThis town depends on tourism.
依然いぜんThe cause is still unknown.

Examples

  • 弁護士べんごしに相談そうだんを依頼いらいしました。I asked a lawyer for advice.
  • 会社かいしゃに修理しゅうりを依頼いらいしました。We asked the company to carry out the repairs.
  • この町まちは観光かんこうに依存いぞんしています。This town depends on tourism.
  • 彼かれはスマートフォンに依存いぞんしすぎています。He relies too much on his smartphone.
  • 原因げんいんは依然いぜんとして不明ふめいです。The cause is still unknown.
  • 道路どうろは依然いぜんとして通行止つうこうどめです。The road remains closed.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

依然として means “still” or “as before”, not dependence. 依 contains the person component 亻 beside 衣; do not confuse it with 衣 alone.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 依頼 in hiragana.

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    いらい

    依頼 is いらい: it can describe asking a lawyer for advice.

  2. Write the reading of 依存 in hiragana.

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    いぞん

    依存 is いぞん: a town can depend on tourism.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿然（いぜん）［依／衣］.

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    依

    依 completes 依然（いぜん）; 依然として describes a situation that remains unchanged.

Use it today

Write 依 using the diagram. Cover the table, read 依頼 and 依存, then make a sentence with one.