頼たのむ

た

の

む

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

General word for asking someone to do something for you. Can range from a polite request to a strong plea depending on context.

彼かれは先せん生せいにもう一いち度ど説せつ明めいしてくれるように頼たのんだ。

He asked the teacher to explain it one more time.

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

Used when ordering goods, services, or reserving something. Common with nouns like 料理, タクシー, 席.

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

entrust; leave to

Used when leaving a task or matter in someone else's hands, trusting them to handle it. Often appears as 〜に頼む.

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

Used when counting on someone or something as a source of support. The kanji 恃む is especially associated with this sense, though 頼む is also used.

彼かれは父ちち親おやのコネを頼たのんで就しゅう職しょくした。
He got the job by relying on his father's connections.
いざという時ときは君きみを頼たのむよ。
I'm counting on you when the time comes.

interjection

please; help me out

colloquial

Colloquial interjection used to plead or urge someone to do something. Often used as a standalone exclamation or at the end of a request.

頼たのむUsage88%
Standard kanji spelling for all modern senses.
たのむUsage11%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing, especially for the interjection.
恃たのむUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form used especially for 'to rely on'.
憑たのむ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; lists it without a specific sense restriction.

願ねがう
願う is more formal and often used in set expressions like お願いします. 頼む is more direct and covers a wider range from casual requests to ordering services.
任まかせる
任せる means to leave something completely to someone's discretion, while 頼む implies asking someone to do a specific task.

The historical derivation is uncertain. The kanji 頼 carries meanings related to 'request' and 'rely on', which align with the core senses.