Skip to content
Kotomora

賴

rely, depend on, accuse falsely

StatusJinmeiyō (variant)Strokes16

Readings

On'yomi

  • ライ

Kun'yomi

  • たのむ
  • たよる
  • たより

Meaning

賴 centers on leaning on something or someone for support: relying, depending, or trusting. The sense of falsely accusing is a separate, less common meaning that may stem from shifting blame onto another.

Study

Etymology

賴 is the traditional form of 頼. It combines 束 (bundle) and 負 (burden, carry on back), suggesting the idea of relying on someone to carry a load. The modern simplified form replaces 負 with 頁.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 束 is a bundle, and the right side 負 shows a person carrying a load on their back. Picture someone struggling with a heavy bundle and leaning on another person for support: that is relying on them.

Reading mnemonic

For ライ, imagine relying on a trusted ally to carry the bundle: ally -> ライ, and you depend on their help.