以 (yǐ) — (preposition) by means of; using; (preposition) according to; based on; (conjunction) in order to; so as to
Definition
以 is a formal-written preposition/conjunction with three cores: 'by means of' (instrument), 'according to/based on', and 'in order to' (purpose). More formal than 为了 for purpose and more literary than 根据 for 'according to'.
preposition
by means ofusingaccording tobased on
conjunction
in order toso as to
Easily confused
- 拟nǐlook-aliketo plan to; to intend to
- 已yǐsound-alikealready (formal, written)
- 乙yǐsound-alikesecond of the ten Heavenly Stems (天干); second in order; B
- 矣yǐsound-alike(classical particle, sentence-final) indicates a change of state, completion, or new situation (equivalent to modern 了)
- 倚yǐsound-aliketo lean on (physically)
Examples
- 以。Wǒ men yǐ zhì liàng qiú shēng cún.We rely on quality for survival.
- 以。Tā yǐ dì yī míng de chéng jì kǎo shàng le dà xué.He got into university with the first-place score.
- ，以。Tā nǔ lì xué xí, yǐ tōng guò kǎo shì.He studies hard in order to pass the exam.
Origin
Pictograph六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíngA 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.
Grammar
Appears in
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