以 yǐ to use
to use; by; from
How to remember 以: 人 person + 𠄌 rising hook + 丶 a drop = to use. The plumber shows the new person on the team a rising hook with a drop of oil on it and explains how to use it.
Component breakdown
以 = 人 person + 𠄌 rising hook + 丶 a drop
- 人 person
- 𠄌 rising hook
- 丶 a drop
The plumber shows the new person on the team a rising hook with a drop of oil on it and explains how to use it.
How it came to be
A person with a tool held out from the body, a plough or a basket, picked up and carried. Taking a thing in hand to do something with it is the whole sense.
How it is used
- Rarely stands alone; it lives in frames - 可以 (kěyǐ) may/can, 所以 (suǒyǐ) therefore, 以为 (yǐwéi) assume (wrongly).
- As from / by it marks reference points of time and place - 以前 (yǐqián) before, 以后 (yǐhòu) after, 以上 (yǐshàng) above.
Characters built with 以
Words with 以
- 可以kěyǐcanHSK 1
- 所以suǒyǐsoHSK 2
- 以为yǐwéithink (mistakenly)HSK 3
- 以前yǐqiánbeforeHSK 3
- 以上yǐshàngthat level or higherHSK 3
- 以下yǐxiàthat level or lowerHSK 3
- 以后yǐhòuafterHSK 3
- 以外yǐwàiapart fromHSK 3
- 以内yǐnèiwithinHSK 4
- 以及yǐjíandHSK 5
- 以来yǐláisince (a previous event)HSK 5
- 难以nányǐhard to (predict, imagine etc)HSK 5
- 之所以zhīsuǒyǐthe reason why N PHSK 6
- 以便yǐbiànso thatHSK 6
- 以免yǐmiǎnin order to avoidHSK 6
- 以往yǐwǎngin the pastHSK 6
- 加以jiāyǐin additionHSK 6
- 得以déyǐable toHSK 6
- 足以zúyǐsufficient to...HSK 6
- 不以为然bùyǐwéiránnot to accept as correct (idiom)HSK 7
- 以至于yǐzhìyúdown toHSK 7
- 以身作则yǐshēn-zuòzéto set an example (idiom)HSK 7
- 自以为是zìyǐwéishìto believe oneself infallible (idiom)HSK 7
- 长期以来chángqīyǐláifor a long timeHSK 7
- 予以yǔyǐto giveHSK 8
- 以致yǐzhìto such an extent as toHSK 8
- 全力以赴quánlìyǐfùto do at all costsHSK 8
- 夜以继日yèyǐjìrìnight and day (idiom)HSK 8
- 如愿以偿rúyuànyǐchángto have one's wish fulfilledHSK 8
- 持之以恒chízhī-yǐhéngto pursue unremittingly (idiom)HSK 8
- 梦寐以求mèngmèiyǐqiúliterally to yearn for something even in one's dreamsHSK 9
- 难以置信nányǐ-zhìxìnhard to believeHSK 9
Example sentences
- 他以务农为生。 Tā yǐ wùnóng wéishēng.He makes a living by farming.
- 我7点以前下班。 Wǒ qī diǎn yǐqián xiàbān.I get off work by 7:00 p.m.
- 我可以问你一件事吗？ Wǒ kěyǐ wèn nǐ yí jiàn shì ma?May I ask you a question?
- 我以为你已经回家了。 Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ yǐjīng huíjiā le.I thought you had already gone home.