以免

• Pinyin: yǐ miǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 以 = 人 + 一 (person + one — originally depicting a tool held by a person; function word meaning by means of/in order to); 免 = 兔 variant (rabbit — a creature that escapes; by extension, to avoid/exempt)

Meaning

So as to avoid; in order to prevent; lest. A conjunction used to introduce the undesirable outcome that a preceding action is taken to prevent.

A formal subordinating conjunction equivalent to 'so as not to' or 'in order to avoid'. The clause following 以免 describes the negative outcome being prevented. Structure: [preventive action] + 以免 + [undesirable outcome]. Similar to 免得 (more colloquial) and 以防 (more emphatic, implying precaution against danger).

Examples

1. 出发前请仔细检查所有行李，以免将重要证件或贵重物品遗忘在家中。 Before you leave, please double-check all your luggage so you don’t forget important documents or valuables at home.
2. 合同签署前须经双方法务团队逐条审阅，以免日后因条款歧义引发纠纷。 Before signing the contract, both sides’ legal teams must review it clause by clause, so there won’t be disputes later caused by ambiguous terms.
3. 医生叮嘱患者术后两周内避免剧烈运动，以免影响伤口愈合，增加感染风险。 The doctor told the patient to avoid strenuous exercise for two weeks after surgery so it won’t affect wound healing and increase the risk of infection.

Usage Guide

Context: instruction, legal, medical, business

Tone: cautionary

Do Say

• 凡涉及重大财务决策的文件，均须在签署前提交至财务合规部门进行独立审核，以免因疏忽或信息不对称而产生不必要的法律风险或资产损失。(All documents involving significant financial decisions must be submitted to the financial compliance department for independent review before signing, so as to avoid unnecessary legal risks or asset losses arising from negligence or information asymmetry.)
• 发送正式报价前，建议再核实成本和汇率是否最新，以免数据滞后造成报价偏差，影响专业形象。(Before sending the formal quote, it is advisable to verify that the costs and exchange rates are current, to avoid pricing errors caused by outdated data and protect the company's professional image.)

Don't Say

• 以免你开心 — 以免 must precede a negative outcome to be avoided; using it before a positive result is grammatically and logically wrong; use 以便、为了、让 for positive purposes

Origin & History

以 (in order to/by means of — original sense of using something as a means) + 免 (to avoid/exempt — 兔 hare/rabbit running away, suggesting avoidance or escape)

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal