1.
to rely on, to depend on
To count on someone or something for help.
親に頼る。
To rely on one's parents.
辞書に頼る。
To depend on a dictionary.
人に頼らないで自分でやる。
I'll do it myself without relying on others.
2.
to resort to
To turn to as a means.
薬に頼る。
To resort to medicine.
暴力に頼らないで解決する。
To resolve things without resorting to violence.
翻訳アプリに頼って会話した。
I conversed relying on a translation app.
頼る means to rely on, depend on, or turn to someone/something for help or support.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 自動詞 (intransitive)
- Takes に particle: Xに頼る (to rely on X)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 親に頼る: to rely on one's parents
- 辞書に頼る: to depend on a dictionary
- 人に頼らない: not relying on others
RELATED WORDS:
- 頼り: reliance, dependence; news, word from someone
- 頼りになる: to be reliable/dependable
- 頼む: to request, ask (different reading, transitive)
NUANCE:
Often implies needing help or support, can have a slightly dependent connotation.