以免 yǐmiǎn in order to avoid
in order to avoid; so as not to
How to remember 以免: 以 to use + 免 avoid = in order to avoid.
Characters
How it is used
- In order to avoid / lest - 早点走，以免堵车 (zǎodiǎn zǒu, yǐmiǎn dǔchē) leave early to avoid traffic.
- 以免 introduces an undesirable result to prevent; the mirror image of 以便 (to bring about a good result).
- Always precedes the bad outcome you want to head off: 小心，以免出事 be careful lest something go wrong.
- Formal but common; near-synonym 免得 (miǎnde) is more colloquial.
Example sentences
- 他很小心地溜出房间，以免惊醒她。 Tā hěn xiǎoxīn de liūchū fángjiān, yǐmiǎn jīngxǐng tā.He crept out of the room very carefully to avoid waking her up.