頼りない · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 頼りない | 頼りなくない |
| Polite | 頼りないです | 頼りなくないですalso 頼りなくありません |
| Past polite | 頼りなかったです | 頼りなくなかったですalso 頼りなくありませんでした |
| Past | 頼りなかった | 頼りなくなかった |
| Te-form | 頼りなくて | 頼りなくなくて |
| Adverbial | 頼りなく | |
| Conditional | 頼りなければ | 頼りなくなければ |
| Tara conditional | 頼りなかったら | 頼りなくなかったら |
unreliable; undependable; vague
Describes a person, thing, or information that cannot be relied on; often implies a lack of certainty or firmness.
What he says is always unreliable.
This map was so vague that I got lost.
Describes a person who looks weak, lonely, or in need of support; often used for someone who seems pitifully dependent.
The child standing alone looked helpless.
She asked for help in a forlorn voice.
Describes a feeling of anxiety or lack of confidence about a situation; often used when one feels unsettled or insecure.
Thinking about tomorrow's exam makes me feel somewhat uneasy.
Since his reply was late, I waited anxiously.
The new boss still seems unreliable.
He was walking with an unsteady gait.
The child standing alone looked somehow helpless.
Being alone in an unfamiliar place makes me feel uneasy.
All I got from him was a vague reply.
頼りない describes someone or something unreliable, contrasting with 間違いない used to praise a person or method as trustworthy.