dependency
dependency — 名詞
1. a condition where a person, group, or thing needs another for support, money, ca
依賴；依靠
需要他人或事物才能正常運作的狀況
a condition where a person, group, or thing needs another for support, money, care, or resources and is unable to function normally without that help
After losing his job, Ayana's dependency on her savings became a daily struggle.
失去工作後，Ayana 對積蓄的依賴成了每天的煎熬。
dependency on [something] after a change in circumstances
The small island's heavy dependency on imported food worried local officials.
這座小島對進口食物的高度依賴令當地官員感到擔憂。
heavy dependency on [something] — adjective intensifier
Wei tried to reduce his dependency on public transport by cycling to work.
Wei 試著騎腳踏車上班，以減少對大眾運輸的依賴。
A young child's complete dependency on its parents is natural and necessary.
幼兒對父母完全的依賴是自然且必要的。
Walid felt frustrated by his financial dependency on his older brother.
Walid 對哥哥的經濟依賴讓他感到沮喪。
- dependence
nearly identical in meaning, though dependence is slightly more neutral and can describe a simple causal link without the connotation of helplessness
- reliance
more neutral and can describe healthy, everyday needs (e.g. reliance on public transport); less intense than dependency
- need
broader word that can describe anything necessary for survival, comfort, or success; does not specify a relationship between two parties
- independence
the state of not needing outside support or control
文法句型
dependency + on/upon + noun
用法筆記
Typically followed by on or upon. Common in contexts describing financial, emotional, or operational reliance. The uncountable form is the default for abstract reliance; a dependency (countable) is almost never used for this sense.
常見錯誤
2. a physical or mental condition in which someone cannot stop using a harmful subs
成癮；依賴
無法停止使用有害物質或行為的狀態
a physical or mental condition in which someone cannot stop using a harmful substance or engaging in a harmful activity, even though it damages their health or life
Putri entered a treatment centre to overcome her dependency on alcohol.
Putri 進入治療中心，戒除她對酒精的依賴。
overcome + dependency on + substance
The doctor warned Andrés about the risk of dependency from long-term sleep medication.
醫生警告 Andrés，長期服用安眠藥可能產生依賴的風險。
risk of dependency from [medication type]
Opioid dependency has become a public health crisis in many communities worldwide.
類鴉片藥物成癮已成為全球許多社區的公共衛生危機。
Recovery from drug dependency often requires years of support from family and doctors.
從藥物成癮中康復，往往需要家人和醫生多年的支持。
Nia developed a physical dependency on painkillers after just three weeks of use.
Nia 使用止痛藥才三週，就產生了身體上的依賴。
- addiction
more common in everyday language; covers both physical and psychological compulsion, while dependency tends to highlight the physical component
- habit
weaker and less clinical; a habit can be broken more easily and does not necessarily involve physical withdrawal
- substance abuse
focuses on the harmful use pattern rather than the state of reliance itself
- sobriety
the state of being free from substance use
- abstinence
the practice of choosing not to use a substance at all
文法句型
dependency + on/upon + substance
用法筆記
Often modified by an adjective specifying the substance (drug, alcohol, opioid, nicotine). Can be used interchangeably with addiction in medical contexts, though dependency places more emphasis on the physical condition of reliance, while addiction also covers the behavioural and psychological compulsion.
常見錯誤
3. a country or territory that is politically controlled and administered by a more
附屬國；屬地
受他國政治統治的領土
a country or territory that is politically controlled and administered by a more powerful foreign country, often without full rights of self-government
The small island remained a British dependency until it gained full independence in 1978.
這座小島一直是英國的屬地，直到 1978 年才完全獨立。
remained a [country] dependency — historical context
Ritu studied how former colonial dependencies built their own legal systems after independence.
Ritu 研究了前殖民地屬地在獨立後如何建立自己的法律體系。
former + colonial + dependency — academic register
The Channel Islands are Crown dependencies with their own parliaments and tax systems.
海峽群島是英國皇家屬地，擁有自己的議會和稅制。
Historians disagree about whether this dependency benefited from the ruling power's investment.
歷史學家對這塊屬地是否因統治國的投資而受益看法不一。
The former French dependency now manages its own trade agreements and issues its own currency.
這個前法國屬地現在管理自己的貿易協定，並發行自己的貨幣。
- colony
more common and broader; colony can describe any settled territory under foreign control, while dependency often implies a formally subordinate political status
- territory
more neutral; a territory may have more autonomy than a dependency and is not necessarily controlled from overseas
- protectorate
a specific historical status where a powerful state guarantees protection over a weaker state while controlling its foreign affairs
- sovereign state
a fully independent country with self-government and international recognition
文法句型
a/an + dependency
former + dependency
用法筆記
Countable noun — a dependency, two dependencies. Modern usage typically refers to historical colonial possessions or current semi-autonomous territories such as the British Crown Dependencies. Distinguish from sense 1: this is a geographical/political entity, not an abstract state of need.