凭れる
もたれる · motareru · JLPT N2 · verb-ichidan
to lean against
🧱 Sounds like mow-tar-ray: lean on a wall that was just tarred and you stick to it
Mo-ta-re-ru sounds like mow-tar, so the wall you lean on is freshly tarred and sticky. The same verb also covers leaning on a person for support.
凭 — 任 (rèn) phonetic + 几 (jī) table/bench
Originally written 凴 with 任 as phonetic over 几 (a low table or armrest), depicting leaning on something for support. The modern form 凭 simplifies the top to 任. Core meanings extended from 'to lean on' to 'rely on,' 'based on,' and 'evidence/proof.'