Kilo Lingo
Mandarin grammar Part of Chapter 27

CEFR B1-B2

5 min read

Test yourself (15 questions)

Mandarin 以 (yǐ): 以为, 以及, 以便, 以免 and 以来

By Michael McGettrick and Wee Khang LinUpdated 12 October 2026

(yǐ) was once a verb, "take, use". Today it lives in fixed pairs. One of them, (yǐwéi), "thought, wrongly", is everyday speech. The others are written or formal: (yǐjí), and; (yǐbiàn), so that; 免 (yǐmiǎn), so as not to; (yǐlái), since; …… (yǐ…wéi…), take X as Y.

Quick check

Three quick questions on what you have just read. The full practice is further down.

Pick the right one

0/3

以为 (thought, wrongly) or 认为 (believe)? The English decides.

  1. 我你走了！ (I thought you'd gone! But here you are.)

    wǒ ___ nǐ zǒu le ！ (I thought you'd gone! But here you are.)

  2. 我这个办法最好。 (I believe this method is the best.)

    wǒ ___ zhè ge bàn fǎ zuì hǎo 。 (I believe this method is the best.)

  3. 我今天不上课，原来要上课。 (I thought there was no class today; there was.)

    wǒ ___ jīn tiān bú shàng kè ， yuán lái yào shàng kè 。 (I thought there was no class today; there was.)

The whole family on one screen

The colours stay the same all page long:

the 以 wordits everyday neighbour or look-alikeWhat do the colours mean?
HanziPinyinEnglishRegister
yǐwéithought (wrongly)speech
yǐjíand, as well aswritten
yǐbiànso thatwritten
免miǎnyǐmiǎnso as not towritten
yǐláisince (up to now)formal
……yǐ…wéi…take X as Ywritten
Everyday speechFormal writing
  1. 以为 yǐwéi: said every day
  2. 以来 yǐlái: news and careful speech
  3. 以及, 以便, 以免, 以…为…: writing

The same (yǐ) sits inside words you already know: (kěyǐ), can; (suǒyǐ), so; (yǐqián), before; (yǐhòu), after.

以为 (yǐwéi): I thought, wrongly

the 以 wordWhat do the colours mean?

(yǐwéi) usually says the belief turned out to be wrong. You do not need to add "but I was wrong": the word says it.

HanziPinyinEnglish
。Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ jīntiān bù lái.I thought you weren't coming today
，。Wǒ yǐwéi tā shì lǎoshī, yuánlái tā shì xuéshēng.I thought he was the teacher; he's a student
？Nǐ yǐwéi wǒ bù zhīdào ma?Did you think I didn't know?

With (hái) in front, it sounds like English "and there was me thinking": (wǒ hái yǐwéi nǐ zǒu le), and there was me thinking you'd gone.

以为 (yǐwéi), 认为 (rènwéi) or 觉得 (juéde)?

the 以 wordits everyday neighbour or look-alikeWhat do the colours mean?

All three translate as "think". Only (yǐwéi) says you were wrong:

HanziPinyinEnglish
。Wǒ yǐwéi jīntiān bú shàngkè.I thought there was no class (there was)
。Wǒ rènwéi zhège bànfǎ zuì hǎo.I believe this method is best
。Wǒ juéde jīntiān yǒudiǎn lěng.I feel it's a bit cold today

(rènwéi) states a considered view; (juéde) is a feeling or an impression. Say (wǒ yǐwéi zhège bànfǎ zuì hǎo) and your listener waits for the "but". Formal and older writing still uses for a plain "consider", so you will meet it there without the mistake: ， (wǒmen yǐwéi, zhège bànfǎ zuì hǎo), in a report, we consider this method the best.

以便 (yǐbiàn) and 以免 (yǐmiǎn): so that, so as not to

the 以 wordWhat do the colours mean?

Both open the second clause and give the purpose of the first. (yǐbiàn) names the result you want; 免 (yǐmiǎn) names the one you want to avoid:

HanziPinyinEnglish
，。Qǐng tíqián gàosu wǒmen, yǐbiàn wǒmen ānpái.Tell us early, so that we can arrange it
，。Qǐng xiě qīngchu dìzhǐ, yǐbiàn wǒmen liánxì nǐ.Write your address clearly, so we can reach you
，免miǎn。Qǐng bǎ rìqī xiě xiàlái, yǐmiǎn wàngjì.Write the date down so you don't forget
，免miǎn。Lùshang xiǎoxīn, yǐmiǎn chūshì.Take care on the way, so nothing goes wrong

The trap: 免 (miǎn) already means "avoid", so the bad outcome goes in plainly. English says "so you do NOT forget"; Mandarin says 免 (yǐmiǎn wàngjì), with no (bù).

Both belong on notices, forms and work emails. In speech, (hǎo) and 免 (miǎnde) do the same jobs: ， (zǎo diǎnr shuì, míngtiān hǎo zǎo qǐ), go to bed early so you can get up early tomorrow; ，免 (zǎo diǎnr zǒu, miǎnde chídào), leave early so you're not late.

以及 (yǐjí): and, in a written list

the 以 wordits everyday neighbour or look-alikeWhat do the colours mean?

(yǐjí) joins nouns and noun phrases, like (hé), but in writing. It usually brings in the last item of a list:

HanziPinyinEnglish
、。Huì shang tǎolùn le jiàgé, shíjiān yǐjí dìdiǎn.The meeting discussed price, time and place
。Zhè běn shū jièshào le Zhōngguó de lìshǐ yǐjí wénhuà.This book covers China's history and culture
。Wǒ mǎi le chá hé kāfēi.I bought tea and coffee (said)

It does not join two descriptions such as and : there, use (érqiě) or (yě): ， (wǒ hěn lèi, érqiě hěn è), I'm tired, and hungry too.

以来 (yǐlái): since, up to now

the 以 wordits everyday neighbour or look-alikeWhat do the colours mean?

(yǐlái) goes after a time, not before it as English "since" does, and the stretch runs up to now. (yǐhòu) is a point later on:

  • 三年以前 sān nián yǐqián: three years ago (a point)

  • 三年以来 sān nián yǐlái: over the last three years, up to now

  • 三年以后 sān nián yǐhòu: three years later (a point)

Timeline from past to future, with now marked.

HanziPinyinEnglish
，。Sān nián yǐlái, zhège chéngshì biànhuà hěn dà.This city has changed a lot in three years
，。Tā lái Zhōngguó yǐlái, yìzhí hěn máng.He's been busy since he came to China
，国guó。Sān nián yǐhòu, tā huíguó le.Three years later, he went home

Because the stretch reaches now, the clause after (yǐlái) usually reports a change or an ongoing state, as in the first two rows.

以…为… (yǐ…wéi…): take X as Y

the 以 wordWhat do the colours mean?

Here the old verb shows most plainly: (yǐ) takes something, and (wéi) says what it counts as. Both halves must appear:

HanziPinyinEnglish
。Zhège xuéxiào yǐ xuéshēng wéi zhōngxīn.This school puts students at the centre
例lì。Wǒmen yǐ tā wéi lì.Let's take him as an example
。Tā yǐ gōngzuò wéi zhòng.He puts work first

is read wéi here, "to be, to act as", not the wèi of (wèi shénme). On its own, (yǐ) also survives in writing as "with, by": (yǐ zuì kuài de sùdù), at top speed.

Mistakes English speakers make

WrongRightWhy
，免miǎn。，免miǎn。免miǎn (yǐmiǎn) already means "not to"
，。，。 (yǐlái) follows the time
。。the frame is …… (yǐ…wéi…)
。，。 (yǐjí) is for lists of things

What to do next

  1. Do the drill below.
  2. Tell someone two things you got wrong this week with … (wǒ yǐwéi…).
  3. Then read the 之 (zhī) set phrases, the other classical survivor, and conjunctions for and .

Practise: test yourself

Pick the right one

0/3

以为 (thought, wrongly) or 认为 (believe)? The English decides.

  1. 我你走了！ (I thought you'd gone! But here you are.)

    wǒ ___ nǐ zǒu le ！ (I thought you'd gone! But here you are.)

  2. 我这个办法最好。 (I believe this method is the best.)

    wǒ ___ zhè ge bàn fǎ zuì hǎo 。 (I believe this method is the best.)

  3. 我今天不上课，原来要上课。 (I thought there was no class today; there was.)

    wǒ ___ jīn tiān bú shàng kè ， yuán lái yào shàng kè 。 (I thought there was no class today; there was.)

Pick the right one

0/3

以便 (so that) or 以免 (so as not to)?

  1. 请把日期写下来，忘记。 (so you don't forget)

    qǐng bǎ rì qī xiě xià lái ，___ wàng jì 。 (so you don't forget)

  2. 请提前告诉我们，我们安排。 (so that we can arrange it)

    qǐng tí qián gào su wǒ men ，___ wǒ men ān pái 。 (so that we can arrange it)

  3. 路上小心，出事。 (so you don't have an accident)

    lù shang xiǎo xīn ，___ chū shì 。 (so you don't have an accident)

Sort into groups

0/4

A stretch up to now, or a point later on?

Tap a word, then the group it belongs in.

Spot the mistake

0/3

Each sentence has one mistake. Tap it.

  1. qǐng bǎ rì qī xiě xià lái ， yǐ miǎn bú wàng jì 。

  2. zhè ge xué xiào yǐ xué shēng shì zhōng xīn 。

  3. wǒ hěn lèi yǐ jí hěn è 。

Put the words in order

0/2

Put the words in order.

  1. Let's take him as an example.

    Your sentence is empty.

  2. This school puts students at the centre.

    Your sentence is empty.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between (yǐwéi) and (rènwéi)?
(yǐwéi) usually means the belief turned out wrong: (wǒ yǐwéi nǐ jīntiān bù lái), I thought you weren't coming today (but here you are). (rènwéi) states a view you hold: (wǒ rènwéi zhège bànfǎ zuì hǎo), I believe this method is best.
What is the difference between (yǐbiàn) and 免 (yǐmiǎn)?
(yǐbiàn) gives the result you want, 'so that': ， (qǐng tíqián gàosu wǒmen, yǐbiàn wǒmen ānpái). 免 (yǐmiǎn) gives the one you want to avoid, 'so as not to': ，免 (qǐng bǎ rìqī xiě xiàlái, yǐmiǎn wàngjì). Both are written.
Why is 免 wrong?
免 (miǎn) already means 'avoid', so the thing to avoid goes in plainly: 免 (yǐmiǎn wàngjì), so as not to forget. 免 would mean 'so as not to fail to forget'.
What does (yǐlái) mean?
'Since', for a stretch running up to now. It goes after the time: (sān nián yǐlái), over the last three years; (tā lái Zhōngguó yǐlái), since he came to China. (sān nián yǐhòu) is different: three years later.
What does …… (yǐ…wéi…) mean?
'Take X as Y', in writing: (zhège xuéxiào yǐ xuéshēng wéi zhōngxīn), this school puts students at the centre; 例 (wǒmen yǐ tā wéi lì), let's take him as an example. is read wéi here.