神 頼(かみだの)み

かみだのみ

noun

relying on divine help; prayer as a last resort

1. relying on divine help; praying to God as a last resort

Turning to the gods or to prayer when all other options have been exhausted. Implies a desperate or helpless situation.

もう神頼(かみだの)みしかない。

All we can do now is pray.

試験(しけん)前(まえ)に神頼(かみだの)みをしても意味(いみ)がない。

Praying before an exam won't do any good.

努力(どりょく)もせずに神頼(かみだの)みばかりしていては何(なに)も変(か)わらない。

Nothing will change if you just pray without making any effort.

Forms

神(かみ) (god) + 頼(たの)み (reliance, request). Rendaku changes たのみ to だのみ.

Usage

Often used in the expression 神頼(かみだの)みしかない (there's nothing left but to pray). Carries a nuance of desperation — the speaker has tried everything else and has no remaining options. Can also be used critically, to suggest someone is being lazy or passive.

Common collocations

神頼(かみだの)みをする (to pray to the gods)
神頼(かみだの)みしかない (praying is all that's left)
最後(さいご)の神頼(かみだの)み (a last-ditch prayer)

general

Added 2026.3.7 17:55 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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