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免得 (miǎn de) — so as not to, to avoid (followed by an undesirable outcome)

Definition

免得 is a colloquial 'so as not to / to avoid' linking two clauses. More everyday than the written 以免; 生怕 emphasizes the speaker's worry instead of stating purpose.

conjunction
so as not toto avoid (followed by an undesirable outcome)

Examples

  • ，免得。
    Wǒ jì xià le dì zhǐ, miǎn de mí lù.
    I noted down the address so as not to get lost.
  • ，免得。
    Nǐ zuì hǎo zǎo diǎn r chū fā, miǎn de dǔ chē.
    You'd better leave early to avoid traffic jams.
  • ，免得。
    Tā xiǎo shēng shuō huà, miǎn de chǎo xǐng hái zi.
    He spoke softly so as not to wake the child.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

免miǎnavoid
得déso as to

免 means avoid and 得 means so as to, giving “so as not to”.

Characters in this word

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

免 originally drew a man wearing a ceremonial hat. It was later used for meanings such as avoid and exempt.

Open 免 →

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

The old form 㝵 showed a hand picking up a cowry, meaning to obtain; later changes turned that picture into 得.

Open 得 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Cause, Effect & Logic

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