以便 (yǐ biàn) — so that; in order to (formal conjunction introducing a purpose clause)

Definition

以便 is a written conjunction linking a purpose clause ('so that; in order to') to the main clause — more formal than 为了, and unlike 以免 it expresses what you WANT to achieve, not what you want to prevent.

conjunction
so thatin order to (formal conjunction introducing a purpose clause)

Examples

  • ,以便。
    Qǐng tí qián tōng zhī wǒ men, yǐ biàn wǒ men zuò hǎo zhǔn bèi.
    Please notify us in advance so that we can make preparations.
  • ,以便。
    Gōng sī zhèng zài gǎi jìn chǎn pǐn, yǐ biàn mǎn zú kè hù xū qiú.
    The company is improving its products in order to meet customer needs.
  • ,以便。
    Tā měi tiān zǎo qǐ duàn liàn, yǐ biàn bǎo chí shēn tǐ jiàn kāng.
    He exercises early every morning so that he can stay healthy.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

以yǐin order to
便biànconvenient

以 expresses purpose, and 便 expresses convenience, so 以便 means so that.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

便 pairs 亻 (person) with 更 (to change), showing a person changing posture to become comfortable.

Open 便 →

Grammar

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