reliant

Compared meaning: needing help because you cannot manage alone (adjective).

比较义项：缺乏自理或应对能力，需要依靠帮助或支持（形容词）。

• helpless

  Describes someone unable to care for themselves or take action, emphasizing a lack of ability and a feeling of vulnerability; used alone, without naming who or what they depend on.

  形容一个人无法照顾自己或采取行动，强调自身缺乏能力、流露无助感，可以单独使用，不需要说明具体依赖对象。

  The kitten looked helpless, crying alone in an empty box.

  小猫看起来无助，独自在空箱子里哭叫。

• reliant 本词

  Describes depending on a specific person or thing for help or support, almost always followed by 'on'; the tone is neutral and does not necessarily imply a total lack of ability.

  形容依赖某个具体的人或事物来获得帮助或支持，几乎总是后接 on，语气较中性，不一定表示完全丧失能力。

  Young children are highly reliant on their parents for support.

  幼儿在很大程度上依赖父母的支持。

Helpless and reliant both describe needing outside help, but they differ. Helpless stresses a lack of ability and a feeling of vulnerability, and can stand alone. Reliant stresses depending on one specific thing, usually followed by on, and sounds more neutral.

这两个词都描述需要外部帮助的状态，但语气和用法不同：helpless 强调自身缺乏能力、流露无助感，可单独使用；reliant 强调依赖的具体对象，通常后接 on，语气更中性客观。