Meaning
The kanji 依 means to depend on, to rely upon, to lean against, and to act in accordance with. It expresses a relationship of support, trust, or adherence — one entity resting its weight, literally or figuratively, on another.
Structurally, 依 combines two components: the 亻 (person radical, a simplified form of 人) on the left, and 衣 (clothing, garment) on the right. The classical reading is of a person wrapped in or leaning against a garment — evoking warmth, protection, and the comfort of something close. That visual metaphor expanded over time to cover dependence and conformance more broadly.
In formal and written Japanese, 依 appears often in legal, administrative, and academic contexts — particularly in constructions like 〜に依る or 〜に依れば, meaning "according to" or "based on." It also shows up in everyday vocabulary through words like 依存 (dependence) and 依頼 (request, commission). At 8 strokes, it is classified as a Grade 8 (high school) kanji and is important for advanced Japanese literacy.
The 亻 radical signals a connection to human relationships or states — and dependency is fundamentally interpersonal. Whether one relies on a person, an institution, or a set of rules, 依 names that relationship of reliance directly.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary on'yomi is イ (i), derived from the Middle Chinese pronunciation. It dominates formal compound words and appears widely in legal documents, academic texts, and official correspondence.
- 依存 (izon) — dependence, reliance on something or someone; e.g., 依存症 (izonshou) — addiction
- 依頼 (irai) — request, commission, entrustment; formally asking someone to handle a task on your behalf
- 依然 (izen) — still, as before, unchanged; signals that a situation continues without improvement
- 依拠 (ikyo) — basis, foundation, reliance on a source or authority
- 依願 (igan) — voluntary (as in voluntary resignation); literally "according to one's wish"
- 帰依 (kie) — religious devotion, taking refuge in (used in Buddhist contexts)
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi is よ.る (yo.ru), written 依る. This native reading is used in verb form, meaning "to depend on," "to be based on," or "to vary according to." It carries a formal tone and is more common in written than spoken Japanese.
- 依る (yoru) — to be due to, to depend on; e.g., 場合に依る (baai ni yoru) — depending on the situation
- 依って (yotte) — therefore, consequently, based on; a formal conjunctive form found in official documents and legal texts
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 依 forms many compound words across everyday conversation, professional settings, and formal documentation. Key vocabulary is grouped below by theme.
Dependence and Reliance
- 依存 (izon) — dependence, reliance on something or someone
- 依存症 (izonshou) — addiction, dependency disorder
- 帰依 (kie) — taking refuge in, devotion to (Buddhism)
- 依怙 (eko) — favoritism, partiality; favoring one party over others unfairly
Requests and Commissions
- 依頼 (irai) — request, commission, appeal
- 依頼人 (irainin) — client, applicant, the person making a request
- 依頼状 (iraijou) — letter of request, formal written commission
Continuity and Accordance
- 依然 (izen) — still, as ever, unchanged
- 依然として (izen to shite) — still, as before (emphasizing persistence)
- 依拠 (ikyo) — based on, grounded in
- 依願退職 (igan taishoku) — voluntary resignation, stepping down at one's own request
Legal and Formal Usage
- 依命 (imei) — by order of, according to instructions (formal/bureaucratic)
- 依る (yoru) — depending on, based on (verb form, formal written style)
- 依って (yotte) — therefore, accordingly (used in official announcements)
Example Sentences
彼は親に依存しすぎている。
Kare wa oya ni izon shi sugite iru.
He relies on his parents far too much.
弁護士に依頼することにした。
Bengoshi ni irai suru koto ni shita.
I decided to hire a lawyer to handle the matter.
状況は依然として改善されていない。
Joukyou wa izen to shite kaizen sarete inai.
The situation still has not improved.
この判断は法律に依るものです。
Kono handan wa houritsu ni yoru mono desu.
This judgment is based on the law.
結果は努力の度合いに依る。
Kekka wa doryoku no doai ni yoru.
Results come down to how much effort you put in.
依頼人からの連絡を待っています。
Irainin kara no renraku wo matte imasu.
I am waiting to hear back from the client.
スマートフォンへの依存が社会問題になっている。
Sumātofon e no izon ga shakai mondai ni natte iru.
Smartphone dependency has become a serious social problem.
彼女は自分の意志で依願退職した。
Kanojo wa jibun no ishi de igan taishoku shita.
She chose to resign on her own terms.
この規則に依って、処分が決定された。
Kono kisoku ni yotte, shobun ga kettei sareta.
The disciplinary action was decided based on this regulation.
Memory Tip
Picture a person (亻) pulling a garment (衣) tightly around themselves on a cold night. They are completely depending on that clothing for warmth. That image — someone leaning into the protection of what covers them — is the core of 依: to lean on, to depend upon, to act according to what supports you. When you spot the person radical pressed up against the clothing character, picture that cold night, and the meaning of dependence snaps into place. The reading イ also connects naturally to 依存 — relying on something so much you can't do without it.