depend on/upon

[phrasal verb]

depend on/upon (someone or something)

: to be determined or decided by (something)取决于；依…而定

We're not sure if we'll have the picnic. It depends on the weather. [=if the weather is good we will have the picnic]我们不能确定是否会去野餐。这取决于天气。
“Will you go back to college?” “I don't know. It depends on whether or not I can afford it.”“你还会回去读大学吗？”“我不知道。这取决于我能否负担得起。”
The stamp's value depends on how rare it is.邮票的价值取决于其稀少的程度。
Depending upon your child's weight and height, she or he may have to sit in the back seat of the car.从您孩子的体重和身高看，她/他可能得坐在汽车的后座。
It's not clear how many people were at the rally. Reports vary between 10,000 and 20,000, depending on who's counting. [=some people report that there were 10,000 people at the rally, others report that there were 20,000]不清楚有多少人参加了集会。不同的报道人说法不一，有1万到2万不等。

— sometimes used informally without on or upon有时不与on或upon连用，非正式用法

“Are you happy?” “It depends what you mean by ‘happy.’”“你幸福吗？”“这得看你对‘幸福’怎么定义。”

— see also life depends on at ¹life

: to need (someone or something) for support, help, etc.依赖；依靠

He no longer depends on [=relies on] his parents for money.他不再依靠父母的资助了。
They depend heavily/largely/solely/entirely on her income to pay the bills. [=without her income they would not be able to pay their bills]他们在很大程度上/仅仅/完全依靠她的收入来支付账单。

: to be sure about (someone or something) : to trust (someone or something)相信；信赖

She's someone you can always depend on. [=count on]她是你永远可以信赖的人。
She will be remembered as a woman upon whom people could depend.她是一个可以信赖的女人，将被人们铭记。
The manufacturer promises quality you can depend on.生产商承诺其质量可以信赖。

— sometimes used humorously有时作诙谐用法

You could always depend on him to disagree. [=you could always be sure that he would disagree]你大可放心，他永远都持反对意见。
I can always depend on it to rain on days when I forget my umbrella.我敢肯定，要是哪天我忘记带伞，那天准保下雨。

phrasal verb

depended on/upon; depending on/upon; depends on/upon

: to be determined or decided by (something)

We're not sure if we'll have the picnic. It depends on the weather.

"Will you go back to college?" "I don't know. It depends on whether or not I can afford it."

The stamp's value depends on how rare it is.

Depending upon your child's weight and height, she or he may have to sit in the back seat of the car.

: to need (someone or something) for support, help, etc.

He no longer depends on his parents for money.

They depend heavily/largely/solely/entirely on her income to pay the bills.

: to be sure about (someone or something) : to trust (someone or something)

The manufacturer promises quality you can depend on.

She will be remembered as a woman upon whom people could depend.

—sometimes used humorously

I can always depend on it to rain on days when I forget my umbrella.