以免 (so as to avoid)

Just in case

• The forecast is uncertain, and you're heading out for the whole day.
• you你nǐto take along with one带上dài shàngumbrella雨伞yǔ sǎn，so as to avoid以免yǐ miǎnto get soaked淋湿lín shī。 — "Take an umbrella so you don't get soaked."

Action，so as to avoid以免yǐ miǎn + unwanted result

• so as to avoid以免yǐ miǎn = "so as to avoid, lest": the first clause is a precaution, the second the result you want to avoid.
• It starts the second clause: please请qǐngkeep保存bǎo cúnsafely好hǎothe receipt收据shōu jù，so as to avoid以免yǐ miǎnlosing it丢失diū shī.

please请qǐngkeep保存bǎo cúnsafely好hǎothe receipt收据shōu jù，so as to avoid以免yǐ miǎnlosing it丢失diū shī。

Warnings and instructions

• to drive a car开车kāi chēo'clock时shídon't不要bú yàoto see看kàncell phone手机shǒu jī，so as to avoid以免yǐ miǎnto happen发生fā shēngaccident事故shì gù。 — "Don't look at your phone while driving, to avoid accidents."
• (把: marks the object)把bǎthe medicine药yàoput放fàngat在zàia high place高处gāo chù，so as to avoid以免yǐ miǎnchildren孩子hái zireach it拿到ná dào。 — "Put the medicine up high so children can't reach it."

把bǎthe medicine药yàoput放fàngat在zàia high place高处gāo chù，so that … not以免yǐ miǎnchildren孩子hái zireach it拿到ná dào。

Only unwanted results

so as to avoid以免yǐ miǎn versus to avoid免得miǎn de and to avoid省得shěng de

• to avoid免得miǎn de / to avoid省得shěng de mean the same in speech: early早zǎoa bit点儿diǎnrleave走zǒu，to avoid免得miǎn detraffic jams堵车dǔ chē.
• so as to avoid以免yǐ miǎn is more formal and common in instructions and notices.

early早zǎoa bit点儿diǎnrleave走zǒu，to avoid免得miǎn detraffic jams堵车dǔ chē。

Recap

Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Conjunctions.