Translation guide
The English word 'dependent' can refer to a person who relies on another for financial support, or to a state of relying on something. In Japanese, different words and patterns are used depending on whether you mean a family dependent, being addicted, relying on someone, or being contingent on a condition.
A person, such as a child or spouse, who relies on someone else for financial support.
Standard term for a dependent family member, often used in official contexts like tax forms.
彼には扶養家族が三人います。
He has three dependents.
Formal term for a dependent person, used in legal or insurance contexts.
被扶養者の数に応じて控除が受けられます。
You can receive deductions based on the number of dependents.
Being addicted to or reliant on a substance like alcohol or drugs.
The medical/psychological term for addiction or dependence.
彼はアルコール依存症だ。
He is dependent on alcohol.
Suffix meaning 'dependence on ~'. Used in compounds like アルコール依存 (alcohol dependence).
薬物依存は深刻な問題です。
Drug dependence is a serious problem.
Needing the support of someone or something to function or survive.
Common pattern meaning 'to depend on ~'. Used for both concrete and abstract reliance.
その国は石油の輸入に依存している。
That country is dependent on oil imports.
彼はまだ親に依存している。
He is still dependent on his parents.
Verb meaning 'to rely on', often with a nuance of leaning on someone for help. Less formal than 依存する.
Phrase meaning 'to count on' or 'to depend on' someone.
彼は頼りになる人だ。
He is a dependable person.
Something that depends on a condition or factor.
Pattern meaning 'it depends on ~'. Often used to express that an outcome is contingent on something.
成功は努力次第だ。
Success depends on your effort.
Pattern meaning 'it depends on ~' or 'it varies according to ~'. Used for conditions or sources.
結果は場合による。
The result depends on the situation.
You can depend on your friends when you're in trouble.