“〜wo ate ni suru・wo tayori ni”: To Count On / Rely On / Go By [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
A written way to express relying on someone or something
“〜wo ate ni suru・wo tayori ni”: To Count On / Rely On / Go By
Both express “relying,” with different nuances: を当(あ)てにする = “to count on, bank on (its coming/helping),” often with the flavor of over-reliance or wishful expectation: 「他人を当てにしてばかりではいけない」 (you shouldn't just count on others); を頼(たよ)りに = “to rely on, go by (a clue/support)”: 「星を頼りに、夜の海を進む」 (navigate the night sea going by the stars).
🧠 Core nuance: 当てにする = count on (depend), 頼りに = go by (a clue/support)
Both mean “rely,” differing in: を当てにする is “pinning your hopes on someone/something, expecting it to help/be there,” often with a negative sense of over-reliance, leaning on others (counting on others, banking on a bonus); を頼りに is “taking 〜 as a support or clue,” neutral, often going by a concrete clue, tool, or support to do something (by starlight, by memory, by a map).
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun ＋ を当てにする | count on, bank on | ボーナスを当てにする |
| noun ＋ を頼りに | rely on, go by | 記憶を頼りに |
| を頼りにして | (same, longer) | 地図を頼りにして |
💬 Example Sentences
- 他人を当てにしてばかりでは、いつまでも成長しない。(If you only count on others, you'll never grow.) — over-reliance
- ボーナスを当てにして、高い買い物をした。(Banking on a bonus, I made an expensive purchase.) — banking on
- かすかな星明かりを頼りに、夜の山道を下りた。(Going by the faint starlight, I descended the night mountain path.) — by a clue
- 子供の頃の記憶を頼りに、その町を訪ねた。(Going by childhood memory, I visited that town.) — by memory
- 彼の協力を頼りに、計画を進めた。(Relying on his cooperation, I advanced the plan.) — by support
🔄 Compare: を当てにする vs を頼りに vs に頼る vs に依存する
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜を当てにする | “count on (it'll be there/help)” (often over-reliance) | 親を当てにする |
| 〜を頼りに | “go by (a clue/support)” (neutral) | 地図を頼りに |
| 〜に頼る | “rely on, turn to” (general) | 親に頼る |
| 〜に依存する | “depend on (unable to stand alone)” (negative) | 薬に依存する |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Mixing the two: “count on (to help/be there)” uses を当てにする; “go by (a clue) to act” uses を頼りに.
- Particle: both を当てにする/を頼りに use を; ✗ に頼りに.
- を頼りに + an action: を頼りに is often followed by an action like “advance, search for.”
- に頼る uses に: を頼りに (を) vs に頼る (に) — different particles.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
を当てにする・を頼りに both express reliance: を当てにする is “count on, bank on (it'll be there/help),” often with a negative flavor of over-reliance or leaning on others (just counting on others, banking on a bonus); を頼りに is “go by a clue/support,” neutral, often going by a concrete clue, tool, or support to act (by starlight, by memory, by help). Master “当てにする (count on, often negative) vs 頼りに (go by, neutral).” A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- Commonly tested at N1: を当てにする (count on, often over-reliance) vs を頼りに (go by, neutral).
- Particle: both use を; に頼る uses に.
- Distinction: を頼りに (go by a clue) vs に依存する (dependence that can't stand alone).
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「他人___ばかりでは、いつまでも成長しない。」（光指望別人）
(A) を当てにして (B) において (C) にとって (D) をめぐって
Q2. 「星___、夜の海を進む。」（憑藉星星）
(A) を頼りに (B) を当てにして (C) によって (D) について
Q3. 「ボーナスを当てにする」の意味は?
(A) 指望／寄望獎金（期待會有）
(B) 拒絕獎金
(C) 退還獎金
(D) 沒有獎金
Q4. 「を頼りに」の語感は?
(A) 靠著／憑藉(以〜為依靠或線索)
(B) 圍繞〜
(C) 雖然〜卻
(D) 即使〜也
Q5. 接法が正しいのは?
(A) 勘を頼りに進む。 (B) 勘を頼りにのに。
(C) 勘が頼りする。 (D) 勘を頼りにを。
答案解析
1. (A) を当てにして ── 光指望別人。
2. (A) を頼りに ── 憑藉星星。
3. (A) ── 指望/寄望獎金。
4. (A) ── 靠著/憑藉。
5. (A) ── 「勘を頼りに進む」正確。