避免 bìmiǎn to avert
to avert; to prevent; to avoid; to refrain from
How to remember 避免: 避 to avoid + 免 avoid = to avert.
Characters
How it is used
- To avoid/prevent something undesirable - 避免冲突 (bìmiǎn chōngtū) avoid conflict; 为了避免误会 (wèile bìmiǎn wùhuì) to avoid misunderstanding.
- Often takes a verb phrase: 避免再次发生 (bìmiǎn zàicì fāshēng) prevent it happening again. Vs 躲避 (duǒbì, physically dodge) - 避免 is about heading off a bad outcome.
Example sentences
- 那是可避免的。 Nà shì kě bìmiǎn de.That's avoidable.
- 战争并非不可避免。 Zhànzhēng bìngfēi bùkěbìmiǎn.War is not inevitable.
- 带把伞出去，避免淋雨。 Dài bǎ sǎn chūqù, bìmiǎn línyǔ.Bring along an umbrella to avoid the rain.