Character
以
- 1. with, by means of, using
- 2. according to, in accordance with
- 3. because of, due to
- 4. in order to, so as to
- 5. (lit.) at, by (a point in time)
- 6. and, as well as (coordinating conjunction, same usage as "而")
- 7. a surname
- 8. placed before a directional word to form a compound expressing a boundary of time, place, or quantity
- 9. forms the pattern "以……为……" meaning "to take … as …", "to consider … to be …", or "compared to how"
- 10. by virtue of, on the basis of
Words using 以 as yǐ (32)
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- 可 can; able to; expressing possibility or permission
- 以 by means of; complements 可 to form expressions of ability or acceptability
Example
我可以帮你。
wǒ kě yǐ bāng nǐ
I can help you.
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Example
天气很冷,所以我穿了很多衣服。
tiān qì hěn lěng suǒ yǐ wǒ chuān le hěn duō yī fu
The weather is very cold, so I wore a lot of clothes.
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- 以 from, starting from (indicates a reference point)
- 上 up, above (indicates upward direction or higher value)
Example
十八岁以上的人可以投票。
shí bā suì yǐ shàng de rén kě yǐ tóu piào
People 18 years and above can vote.
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Example
请看以下说明。
qǐng kàn yǐ xià shuō míng
Please see the following instructions.
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Example
我以为他不来了。
wǒ yǐ wéi tā bù lái le
I thought he wasn't coming.
Show more (+27)
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- 以 grammatical marker connecting with 前 to form time expression
- 前 before, previous (in terms of time)
Example
我以前住在北京。
wǒ yǐ qián zhù zài běi jīng
I lived in Beijing before.
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- 以 from; by means of (marks the starting point in time)
- 后 after; later; behind (provides the temporal direction)
Example
以后我会更加努力。
yǐ hòu wǒ huì gèng jiā nǔ lì
In the future, I will work even harder.
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Example
除了中文以外,我还会说英语。
chú le zhōng wén yǐ wài wǒ hái huì shuō yīng yǔ
Besides Chinese, I can also speak English.
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- 以 by means of, with (functions as a preposition establishing a boundary)
- 内 inside, within (indicates interior space or limit)
Example
请在三天以内完成这项工作。
qǐng zài sān tiān yǐ nèi wán chéng zhè xiàng gōng zuò
Please complete this work within three days.
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Example
会议讨论了经济以及环境问题。
huì yì tǎo lùn le jīng jì yǐ jí huán jìng wèn tí
The meeting discussed economic as well as environmental issues.
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- 以 from, since (marking the starting point in time)
- 来 coming up to now (indicates direction toward present)
Example
改革开放以来,中国发生了巨大的变化。
gǎi gé kāi fàng yǐ lái zhōng guó fā shēng le jù dà de biàn huà
Since the reform and opening up, China has undergone tremendous changes.
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Example
这种感觉难以形容。
zhè zhǒng gǎn jué nán yǐ xíng róng
This feeling is hard to describe.
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- 之 grammatical particle linking the reason
- 所 that which, indicating the object or thing
- 以 by means of, because of (causal meaning)
Example
我之所以学中文,是因为我喜欢中国文化。
wǒ zhī suǒ yǐ xué zhōng wén shì yīn wèi wǒ xǐ huān zhōng guó wén huà
The reason why I study Chinese is because I like Chinese culture.
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- 以 by means of, in order to (grammatical marker indicating purpose)
- 便 convenient, then (combines with 以 to express facilitation of purpose)
Example
请提前预订,以便我们安排座位。
qǐng tí qián yù dìng yǐ biàn wǒ men ān pái zuò wèi
Please book in advance so that we can arrange seats.
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Example
请早点出发,以免迟到。
qǐng zǎo diǎn chū fā yǐ miǎn chí dào
Please leave early so as not to be late.
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Example
他比以往更加努力了。
tā bǐ yǐ wǎng gèng jiā nǔ lì le
He works harder than before.
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Example
这个问题需要加以解决。
zhè ge wèn tí xū yào jiā yǐ jiě jué
This problem needs to be resolved.
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Example
通过努力学习,她得以考上理想的大学。
tōng guò nǔ lì xué xí tā dé yǐ kǎo shàng lǐ xiǎng de dà xué
Through diligent study, she was able to get into her ideal university.
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Example
一个微笑足以让人感到温暖。
yí gè wēi xiào zú yǐ ràng rén gǎn dào wēn nuǎn
A smile is enough to make people feel warm.
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Example
他对我的建议不以为然。
tā duì wǒ de jiàn yì bù yǐ wéi rán
He disapproves of my suggestion.
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Example
学校对优秀学生予以奖励。
xué xiào duì yōu xiù xué shēng yǔ yǐ jiǎng lì
The school gives rewards to outstanding students.
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- 以 by means of; using (forms part of conjunction)
- 至 to reach; to arrive at (indicates extent)
- 于 at; in (preposition completing the conjunction)
Example
她太累了,以至于在会议上睡着了。
tā tài lèi le yǐ zhì yú zài huì yì shàng shuì zháo le
She was so tired that she fell asleep during the meeting.
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- 以 by means of; because of (provides causal element)
- 致 to lead to; to result in (provides consequence element)
Example
他工作太累,以致生病了。
tā gōng zuò tài lèi yǐ zhì shēng bìng le
He worked so hard that he became ill.
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Example
作为领导,他总是以身作则。
zuò wéi lǐng dǎo tā zǒng shì yǐ shēn zuò zé
As a leader, he always leads by example.
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- 全 complete, entire, all
- 力 strength, effort, power
- 以 with, using, by means of
- 赴 go to, devote to, attend to
Example
为了实现目标,我们要全力以赴。
wèi le shí xiàn mù biāo wǒ men yào quán lì yǐ fù
To achieve our goal, we must go all out.
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Example
他夜以继日地工作,终于完成了项目。
tā yè yǐ jì rì de gōng zuò zhōng yú wán chéng le xiàng mù
He worked day and night and finally completed the project.
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Example
经过多年的努力,他终于如愿以偿考上了理想的大学。
jīng guò duō nián de nǔ lì tā zhōng yú rú yuàn yǐ cháng kǎo shàng le lǐ xiǎng de dà xué
After years of effort, he finally had his wish fulfilled and was admitted to his ideal university.
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- 持 to hold; to maintain
- 之 it; this (classical particle)
- 以 with; by means of
- 恒 constancy; permanence; perseverance
Example
只要持之以恒,你一定能成功。
zhǐ yào chí zhī yǐ héng nǐ yí dìng néng chéng gōng
As long as you persevere, you will definitely succeed.
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- 梦 dream; represents desires during sleep
- 寐 sleep; emphasizes the constant nature of the desire
- 以 by means of; grammatical connector linking dream/sleep to seeking
- 求 seek; pursue; represents the active pursuit of the desired object
Example
他终于得到了梦寐以求的录取通知书。
tā zhōng yú dé dào le mèng mèi yǐ qiú de lù qǔ tōng zhī shū
He finally received the acceptance letter he had been longing for.
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Example
他总是自以为是,从不听别人的意见。
tā zǒng shì zì yǐ wéi shì cóng bù tīng bié rén de yì jiàn
He is always self-righteous and never listens to others' opinions.
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- 长 long (duration)
- 期 period, term
- 以 by, with (grammatical connector)
- 来 come, since (indicates time up to now)
Example
长期以来,他一直在研究这个问题。
cháng qī yǐ lái tā yì zhí zài yán jiū zhè ge wèn tí
For a long time, he has been researching this problem.
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Example
这个消息真是难以置信。
zhè ge xiāo xi zhēn shì nán yǐ zhì xìn
This news is really unbelievable.
Structure & writing
以 is a component in 2 characters
以 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.
Stroke order