頼(たよ)りになる

たよりになる

expression

reliable; dependable; someone you can count on

1. reliable; dependable; someone or something you can count on

Describes a person, thing, or quality that can be trusted and relied upon. Functions as an adjectival expression modifying nouns or as a predicate.

頼(たよ)りになる人(ひと)だ。

He's a reliable person.

彼女(かのじょ)はいつも頼(たよ)りになる。

She is always dependable.

困(こま)ったときに頼(たよ)りになるのは、やっぱり家族(かぞく)だ。

When you're in trouble, family is what you can really count on.

Composed of 頼(たよ)り (reliance, dependence — the noun form of 頼(たよ)る) + になる (to become/serve as). Literally "serves as something to rely on." One of the most common ways to express reliability in everyday Japanese.

Usage

Used both as a predicate (頼(たよ)りになる) and as a noun modifier (頼(たよ)りになる人(ひと)). The negative form 頼(たよ)りにならない means "unreliable" and is equally common.

Common collocations

頼(たよ)りになる人(ひと) — reliable person
頼(たよ)りになる存在(そんざい) — dependable presence
頼(たよ)りになる味方(みかた) — reliable ally
頼(たよ)りにならない — unreliable, undependable

Similar words

信頼(しんらい)できる — trustworthy (more formal; emphasizes trust)
当(あ)てになる — can be counted on (often used in the negative: 当(あ)てにならない)
心強(こころづよ)い — reassuring, encouraging (emotional sense of feeling supported)

Related Words

Compare: 心強(こころづよ)い (reassuring, encouraging)

Related: 頼(たよ)る (to rely on, to depend on)

Compare: 頼(たよ)りない (unreliable)

Compare: 信頼(しんらい)する (trustworthy (more formal)

general

Added 2026.3.29 5:09 · Revised 2026.9.12 2:10

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