依頼|いらいirai[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbrequest; commission; entrusting (with a matter)
   事務じむ弁護士べんごしに遺言状ゆいごんじょうの作成さくせいを依頼いらいした。↗

   I asked the solicitor to make out my will.
2. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbdependence; reliance

• Synonym要請ようせいFormalA formal term for appealing or requesting, mostly between institutions (「出動を要請する」); 「依頼」 can be an individual asking someone to do something.
• Synonym頼むたのむNeutralThe everyday verb for asking someone to do something (「仕事を頼む」), common in speech; 「依頼」 is a Sino-Japanese noun with a more formal feel.
• SynonymリクエストNeutralA loanword for requests such as song dedications (「リクエストに応える」), casual in tone; 「依頼」 is more formal.
• Synonym求めるもとめるNeutralCovers seeking and demanding broadly (「協力を求める」); 「依頼」 focuses on asking someone to do a specific task.
• Synonym頼るたよるNeutralTo rely on or turn to for help (「親に頼る」), stressing dependence; 「依頼」 stresses entrusting a task.
• Synonym委託いたくNeutralEntrusting work to be done on one's behalf (「業務委託」), mostly in business and law; 「依頼」 can be a one-off request.
• Synonym申し出もうしでNeutralA proposal or offer one makes of one's own initiative (「援助の申し出」), not necessarily asking the other party to do something.
• Synonym要望ようぼうNeutralA request that the other party do or provide something (「住民の要望」), leaning more toward voicing demands than 「依頼」.
• Synonym頼みたのみNeutralAs a suffix it means reliance (「神頼み」「人頼み」), implying depending on others; it does not mean asking someone to do something.
• Synonym請いこいWrittenA written form meaning request or entreaty (「請いに応じる」), rare in daily use; people normally say 「依頼」 or 「お願い」.
• Related申し込みもうしこみNeutralAn application or sign-up (「参加申し込み」), centered on offering to join or order; 「依頼」 is asking someone to do something.
• Related請求せいきゅうNeutralDemanding something as a right, especially payment (「代金を請求する」); 「依頼」 simply asks someone to do something and assumes no such right.
• Related願いねがいNeutralA wish or request (「お願い」), also a written application; 「依頼」 carries no sense of wishing, focusing on entrusting tasks or relying on others.
• Related申し入れもうしいれNeutralFormally presenting a view or demand to the other party (「抗議の申し入れ」), mostly between organizations.
• Related委任いにんFormalHanding over authority or business to someone (「委任状」), often legal; 「依頼」 is about requesting, not necessarily transferring authority.
• Related催促さいそくNeutralPressing someone to fulfill what they already agreed to (「返事を催促する」), the urging itself; 「依頼」 is making the request in the first place.
• Related懇請こんせいWrittenFormal written language for an earnest appeal (「出席を懇請する」), far more earnest in tone than 「依頼」.
• Related申請しんせいNeutralFiling an application through set procedures, to authorities or within an organization (「ビザ申請」「休暇を申請する」); 「依頼」 is asking someone to do something.
• Relatedお願い事おねがいごとCasualColloquial for a favor you ask of someone (「お願い事がある」), more casual than 「依頼」.
• Related頼みだのみNeutralAs a suffix it means reliance (「神頼み」「人頼み」), implying depending on others; it does not mean asking someone to do something.

Use 「依頼」 for asking someone to handle a task; in everyday speech the verb 「頼む」 is the natural choice. For requests between institutions use 「要請」, for entrusting work to an outside party 「委託」, for handing over authority 「委任」, for official procedures 「申請」, and for signing up 「申し込み」. Words like 「請求」 (claiming payment), 「催促」 (pressing for fulfillment), 「頼る」 (relying on) and 「要望」 (voicing demands) each cover different ground.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 人ひとに物事ものごとを頼たのむこと。