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LEARN + CHINESE / 278 of 300 HSK 7–9

So That 以

早点儿出发，以免错过开场 (“Leave early so you don’t miss the opening”). 以 introduces an intended result, often in formal writing; 以免 and 免得 introduce an outcome the speaker hopes to avoid. The first clause is the action, and the second gives its aim or risk.

这个梯子是否足够坚固以承受我的重量？
zhège tīzi shìfǒu zúgòu jiāngù yǐ chéngshòu wǒ de zhòngliàng？
Is this ladder strong enough to bear my weight?
他很小心地溜出房间，以免惊醒她。
tā hěn xiǎoxīn de liū chū fángjiān， yǐmiǎn jīngxǐng tā。
He crept out of the room very carefully to avoid waking her up.
我们早点出发，免得迟到。
wǒmen zǎodiǎn chūfā, miǎnde chídào.
Let us leave early so we do not arrive late.

Vocabulary

ChineseEnglish
yǐ
to use; by means of; so as to
yǐmiǎn
in order to avoid; so as not to
miǎnde
so as not to; to avoid
chūfā
to depart; set off
jiāngù
firm; sturdy
xiǎoxīn
careful; to take care
jīngxǐng
to wake up with a start; to awaken
wǒmen
we; us
fángjiān
room
chéngshòu
to bear; endure
shìfǒu
whether (or not); if
tīzi
ladder
zúgòu
enough; sufficient
chídào
to arrive late
zhòngliàng
weight
shìyòng
to try out; to use on a trial basis
gǎn
to rush; drive away; catch (bus)
wèile
in order to
tíxǐng
to remind; alert
yǐbiàn
so that; in order to

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