赖 lài to depend on
to depend on; to rely on; to deny; to renege
How it came to be
A bundle with a knife beside it, over a sea shell used as money: goods cut open, money underneath. The oldest sense is profit, and depending on it came next.
How it is used
- Two senses. Positive: to rely on - 依赖 (yīlài) to depend on, 信赖 (xìnlài) to trust (值得信赖 trustworthy).
- Negative: to deny/renege or act shameless - 无赖 (wúlài) a rascal, 耍赖 (shuǎlài) to welsh on a deal or refuse to admit - 别耍赖 (bié shuǎlài) don't be a sore loser.
- 依赖 vs 依靠 (yīkào): 依赖 often carries a whiff of over-reliance, 依靠 is neutral leaning-on.