以免 (so as to avoid)
IntroducedChoose a purpose that avoids trouble
- A form asks you to check the address before sending a parcel.
- to ask请to check核对address地址，so as to avoid以免寄错。 — Checking is the precaution; sending to the wrong place is the avoided outcome.
Locate the pattern in real examples
- so as to avoid以免 (so as to avoid): earlier早点to set off出发,so as to avoid以免traffic堵车。; many多to wear穿point点,so as to avoid以免to catch cold感冒。
- Read the whole clause before choosing a translation. The examples show the pattern in use; the context below determines what the speaker claims.
A form asks you to check the address before sending a parcel. What does 请核对地址，以免寄错。 communicate?
Checking is the precaution; sending to the wrong place is the avoided outcome. 以免寄错 does not assert that a mistake has already happened. Avoid adding a negative automatically: 以免不小心寄错 includes 不小心, but 以免不寄错 reverses the intended risk.
Follow the speaker
earlier早点leave走，so as to avoid以免traffic堵车。
- In the opening situation: to ask请to check核对address地址，so as to avoid以免寄错。
- Checking is the precaution; sending to the wrong place is the avoided outcome.
Using the pattern named in this lesson: Leave early to avoid traffic: 早点走，____ 堵车。
(Action)，以免 + VP = so as to avoid: 早点走,以免堵车.
以免 means the same as “in order to get …”.
No — 以免 = so as to AVOID a bad result, not to gain one.
Check the limit of the explanation
- so as to avoid以免寄错 does not assert that a mistake has already happened.
- Avoid adding a negative automatically: so as to avoid以免not不to be careful小心寄错 includes not不to be careful小心, but so as to avoid以免not不寄错 reverses the intended risk.
The parcel has already been sent to the wrong address.
以免寄错 does not assert that a mistake has already happened. Avoid adding a negative automatically: 以免不小心寄错 includes 不小心, but 以免不寄错 reverses the intended risk. Checking is the precaution; sending to the wrong place is the avoided outcome.
Repair the form before interpreting it
- The form to ask请to check核对address地址，寄错so as to avoid以免 needs repair here. Write to ask请to check核对address地址，so as to avoid以免寄错 instead; keep the word or frame in its demonstrated order.
- Form and meaning are separate checks. After the repair, explain the sentence in its situation rather than treating a familiar translation as a universal rule.
Rewrite the demonstrated repair exactly: 请核对地址，寄错以免
The demonstrated form is 请核对地址，以免寄错. Checking is the precaution; sending to the wrong place is the avoided outcome.
Keep the distinction
- Checking is the precaution; sending to the wrong place is the avoided outcome. Check the relevant speaker, time or group in the surrounding context.
- so as to avoid以免寄错 does not assert that a mistake has already happened. Avoid adding a negative automatically: so as to avoid以免not不to be careful小心寄错 includes not不to be careful小心, but so as to avoid以免not不寄错 reverses the intended risk.
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Conjunctions.
以免 introduces…
小心，以免出错 = be careful so as not to make mistakes.
A form asks you to check the address before sending a parcel. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.