頼る

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 頼る is read as たよる and is an intransitive verb meaning to rely or depend on a person, tool, or source of help.
• Basic usage: Relying on family when in trouble appears in 困ったとき家族を頼る, while not depending only on a map appears in 地図だけに頼らない.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Object marking and limitation
  • A person relied on can take を, while だけに limits dependence to that source alone.
• Difference from 任せる
  • It means depending on someone for help or judgment, unlike entrusting a task or responsibility for them to handle.