頼めない

can't ask, can't rely on

→ 頼む
頼め potential form + ない Negation
verb Rare #41,790
can't ask, can't rely on The negative potential form of 頼む; the intended meaning depends on context.
JA: 忙しそうだから、彼には頼めない。
EN: He looks busy, so I can't ask him for help.
Conjugation of 頼む

そんなの頼めないわ

I can't ask you to do something like that.

— 花様年華 (2000)

ママは明日しか頼めないのよ

I can only ask Mom tomorrow.

— グッドフェローズ (1990)

トムに電話して、こっちに来て手伝ってもらえるよう頼めないこともないよ。

I suppose I could call Tom and ask him to come over and help us.

女は男に頼めないことがあるの。

There are some things a woman can't ask a man to do.

— ベイビー・ブローカー (2022)