靠

kào

告 + 非

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

kào (verb) to lean against; to lean on

kào (verb) to depend on; to rely on; to trust

kào (preposition) near; close to

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 非 represents the meaning and 告 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "conflict". The meaning later shifted to "lean against".

Semantic: 非 Phonetic: 告

About

靠 is a phonosemantic compound in which 非 (fēi, "wrong; opposition") indicates the meaning and 告 (gào, "to tell") gives the sound. The character originally meant "conflict", but its meaning shifted to the physical action of leaning against something for support, such as resting one's back against a chair or wall. The bottom component 非, showing two opposing sides back-to-back, visually suggests the contact. From this concrete sense of leaning, the semantic range broadened to abstract ideas of reliance: trusting someone, depending on external resources to survive, staying physically close to a place, or employing a method to achieve a result.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

请靠近我一点。

Qǐng kàojìn wǒ yīdiǎn.

Please come closer to me.

我们依靠父母。

Wǒmen yīkào fùmǔ.

We rely on our parents.

车子靠边停了。

Chēzi kàobiān tíng le.

The car pulled over to the side.

这个人很靠谱。

Zhège rén hěn kàopǔ.

This person is very reliable.

他有靠山支持。

Tā yǒu kàoshān zhīchí.

He has backing support.

学习要靠自己努力。

Xuéxí yào kào zìjǐ nǔlì.

Learning depends on one's own efforts.

经济发展不能只靠出口。

Jīngjì fāzhǎn bùnéng zhǐ kào chūkǒu.

Economic development cannot rely solely on exports.

在困难的时候，朋友可以靠得住。

Zài kùnnán de shíhou, péngyou kěyǐ kàodezhù.

In difficult times, friends can be relied upon.

Related Characters

Component: 告

Component: 非

靠