How to Write 靠 (kào) — Meaning “Lean against; rely on; near”

Imagine you are telling (告) a friend, 'I am not (非) strong enough to stand, so I need to lean on you.' This visual story links the components to the meanings of leaning or relying. Every time you see 靠, think of asking for support because you cannot do it alone.

The top part 告 should be narrow, while the bottom part 非 is wider, so the character looks balanced. A common mistake is making the top too wide or writing the vertical strokes in 非 crooked instead of straight and parallel. Practice writing 告 first with even strokes, then add the wide 非 below.

靠边 (kào biān) means 'pull over' or 'move to the side,' often used for asking a car to stop at the curb. 依靠 (yī kào) means 'to rely on,' as in depending on someone for help. 靠谱 (kào pǔ) means 'reliable' or 'trustworthy,' and you can say '他很靠谱' to praise someone's dependability.

靠 is used both literally, like 靠在墙上 (lean against the wall), and figuratively, like 依靠父母 (rely on parents). In modern Chinese, the word 靠谱 is very popular to describe a trustworthy person, which is a highly valued trait in Chinese culture. You might also see 靠窗 (by the window) to indicate a location near something.

Common words containing 靠 include: 靠边 (kào biān) — Pull over; move to the side; 依靠 (yī kào) — to rely on; support; 靠谱 (kào pǔ) — Reliable; dependable; trustworthy.