Definition

1. Verb:
   • To depend on someone for something; to rely on someone's help or support: "nhờ cậy" expresses the act of placing trust and expectation in another person to receive assistance, often for a specific task or need. It implies a relationship where one person seeks help from another who is considered capable or willing.

Usage

• General Use: Used to describe the action of asking for and counting on someone's help. It often conveys a sense of trust and expectation in the person being asked.
• Common Structures:
  • nhờ cậy + [someone] + (để/cho) + [purpose/task]
  • nhờ cậy + vào + [someone]
• Nuance: The word carries a slightly more formal or earnest tone than the simpler verb "nhờ" (to ask a favor). It emphasizes reliance and trust in the other party.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Tôi có thể nhờ cậy anh khi gặp khó khăn được không? (Can I depend on you when I encounter difficulties?)
  • Cô ấy luôn nhờ cậy bạn bè mỗi khi chuyển nhà. (She always relies on her friends whenever she moves house.)
  • Lúc tuổi già, ông bà chỉ biết nhờ cậy vào con cái. (In their old age, the grandparents can only depend on their children.)

Advanced Usage

• "nhờ cậy lẫn nhau": to rely on each other, mutual dependence.
  • Trong cuộc sống, chúng ta thường phải nhờ cậy lẫn nhau. (In life, we often have to rely on each other.)
• "chỗ nhờ cậy": a person or place one can rely on; a dependable support.
  • Anh ấy là chỗ nhờ cậy duy nhất của tôi ở thành phố này. (He is my only dependable support in this city.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhờ (v): to ask for a favor. This is a more common and general term. "Nhờ cậy" is often a stronger, more formal synonym.
  • Tôi nhờ anh mua giúp tờ báo. (I ask you to buy a newspaper for me.)
• Cậy (v): to rely on, to trust in (someone's ability or willingness). This is a component of "nhờ cậy" and can be used similarly but is less common alone in modern speech.
  • Cậy vào tài năng của mình, anh ấy không sợ thất bại. (Relying on his talent, he is not afraid of failure.)
• Trông cậy (v): to look to for help; to depend on. Very similar in meaning to "nhờ cậy".
  • Mọi người đều trông cậy vào người lãnh đạo. (Everyone is looking to the leader for help.)

Synonyms

• Dựa vào: to lean on, to rely on.
• Trông mong vào: to hope and rely on.
• Tin tưởng và nhờ vả: to trust and ask for help (a descriptive phrase).

Related Idioms

• "Nhờ cậy như bàn thạch": (Literally: to rely on as firmly as a stone table). This idiom emphasizes absolute, unwavering reliance on someone or something.
  • Quyết định của anh ấy luôn vững vàng, có thể nhờ cậy như bàn thạch. (His decisions are always firm, one can rely on them absolutely.)

1. Depend on someone for
   • Nhờ cậy bạn coi sóc con cái
     To depend on one's friend for the care of one's children