以

yǐ

Pinyin
yǐ
Pinyin (Plain)
yi
Tone
3
Strokes
4
Radical
人
Readings
yǐyiTone: 3old variant of 以[yi3]Order: 0Primary
Stroke Order Code
Speed
Stroke Order Data
["M 225 514 Q 229 492 229 411 Q 228 345 214 308 Q 210 268 173 219 Q 160 206 171 181 Q 183 150 200 138 Q 213 128 228 146 Q 288 239 477 437 Q 493 452 493 462 Q 494 469 487 467 Q 469 461 298 299 Q 283 287 276 291 Q 272 294 273 307 Q 282 532 286 557 Q 290 576 278 586 Q 265 599 217 612 Q 198 615 192 609 Q 185 602 197 582 Q 218 554 225 514 Z", "M 446 658 Q 500 594 532 579 Q 548 575 559 589 Q 566 602 564 620 Q 552 668 461 698 Q 445 704 434 700 Q 427 699 429 686 Q 430 673 446 658 Z", "M 695 336 Q 746 441 761 512 Q 794 656 810 685 Q 822 707 803 718 Q 748 761 717 752 Q 701 748 707 729 Q 723 693 716 602 Q 716 536 671 414 Q 599 240 430 137 Q 411 124 392 111 Q 376 101 391 97 Q 407 96 449 111 Q 524 142 580 192 Q 661 255 681 310 L 695 336 Z", "M 681 310 Q 759 232 846 127 Q 862 105 879 98 Q 889 97 897 107 Q 912 120 900 169 Q 888 232 695 336 C 669 350 660 331 681 310 Z"]
Meaning
“以” is a very common function word that often means “with/by/using” (showing the tool, method, or basis for something), or “in order to/so as to” (showing purpose). It can also be used before time words to mean “from/since” and appears in many fixed expressions and classical-style sentences.
Metadata
Locale: en
Cached At: 3/23/2026, 7:41:32 PM

Usage

In modern Mandarin, 以 is most often seen as part of common words or fixed patterns rather than used alone. It often carries the sense of “using,” “by means of,” or “according to.” For example, 以及 (yǐjí, “as well as”), 可以 (kěyǐ, “can, may”), 以为 (yǐwéi, “to think, to believe [often mistakenly]”), and 以来 (yǐlái, “since…”) are very common in everyday language. In these words it usually doesn’t keep a strong independent meaning, but knowing the core idea “by/with/from” helps you remember and understand them. Learners also encounter 以 in some useful sentence patterns. In more formal or written styles, you might see 以 used like “in order to” or “so as to,” as in 以提高效率 (“in order to improve efficiency”), and in phrases like 以中国为例 (“taking China as an example”). It can also appear in structures indicating standards or limits, such as 以…为主 (“to regard … as primary, to focus on …”) or 不超过10人为限 (“with a limit of no more than 10 people,” literally “using 10 people as the limit”). Overall, learners mainly meet 以 as a component in frequent words and set phrases that carry ideas of means, basis, or purpose.

Handwriting Notes

「以」 in handwriting has a fairly compact, slightly tilted look: it’s built around a tall vertical curve or hook on the left and a more open, angular shape on the right. In neat handwriting, the left side often looks like a downward stroke that bends inward or hooks at the bottom, while the right side can resemble a small, open box or angle that tucks under or beside that left stroke. The whole character usually leans very slightly to the right and doesn’t fill a square as evenly as more blocky characters, which can make it look “slimmer” on the page. In everyday handwriting, people simplify or deform parts of 「以」 quite a bit: the left stroke might be written as a quick, almost straight downward line with only a tiny hook or curve; the right side may shrink into a minimal angle, leaving the character looking like just a tall stroke with a small attached bend. Stroke connections can also merge so the interior space becomes very small or almost closed. Despite these variations, AI handwriting recognition systems are trained on many such handwritten forms, so they can usually identify 「以」 reliably even when it’s written quickly or somewhat messily, as long as that tall left stroke and the small angled part on the right are still distinguishable.

Description

以 is a common function word meaning “to use,” “by means of,” or “in order to.” It often appears in structures showing method, reason, or standard (e.g., 以茶代酒 “use tea instead of wine”). In modern Chinese it frequently appears in fixed expressions and formal written style.

Common Words

  • 可以kěyǐcan; may; to be allowed to; OK
  • 以前yǐqiánbefore; earlier; previously
  • 以后yǐhòuafter; later; in the future
  • 以及yǐjías well as; and
  • 以为yǐwéito think; to believe (often incorrectly)
  • 以来yǐláisince (a certain time); up to now
  • 以上yǐshàngabove; over; the above-mentioned
  • 以下yǐxiàbelow; under; the following
  • 以外yǐwàioutside; except for; other than
  • 以内yǐnèiwithin (a certain time, range, etc.)
  • 以来yǐláisince; ever since (a starting point in time)
  • 由于yóuyúbecause of; due to (note: contains the component 由, not 以, but often confused; including here only to clarify difference)
  • 以便yǐbiànso that; in order to
  • 以及yǐjías well as; and (connecting words or phrases)
  • 以致yǐzhìso that; resulting in (often negative result)
  • 以免yǐmiǎnso as to avoid; in order to avoid
  • 以往yǐwǎngin the past; formerly
  • 以便yǐbiànso that; in order to
  • 以至于yǐzhìyúto such an extent that; so … that
  • 以防yǐfángin order to prevent; lest
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