HSK 7-9
……，以……
..., yǐ...
...so as to...; in order to... (literary)
Structure
Action/Clause 1 + 以 (yǐ) + Purpose/Result Clause 2
How it works
The particle '以' acts as a conjunction in formal or literary Chinese to connect two clauses, indicating purpose or result. It is similar to '为了' or '从而', but is more concise and typically appears in the second clause to explain the reason for the action in the first.
Examples
我们要完善法律法规，以保障公民的合法权益。
Wǒmen yào wánshàn fǎlǜ fǎguī, yǐ bǎozhàng gōngmín de hégě quányì.
We must improve laws and regulations so as to protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens.
有关部门应加强监管，以防类似事故再次发生。
Yǒuguān bùmén yīng jiāqiáng jiānguǎn, yǐfáng lèisì shìgù zàicì fāshēng.
Relevant departments should strengthen supervision in order to prevent similar accidents from happening again.
他废寝忘食地工作，以期尽快完成这项科研任务。
Tā fèiqǐnwàngshí de gōngzuò, yǐqī jǐnkuài wánchéng zhè xiàng kēyán rènwù.
He worked tirelessly, neglecting sleep and food, in hopes of completing this scientific research task as soon as possible.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse this usage with '以' as a preposition (meaning 'with' or 'by means of'). In this HSK 7-9 context, it must link two clauses and indicate a purpose.
Tip
In the HSK 7-9 level, '以' is often combined with other verbs to form formal purpose markers like 以便 (so that), 以期 (in hopes of), or 以免 (to avoid).
More HSK 7-9 grammar
See ……，以…… in real Chinese
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