以

Derived characters

• 似, 㕽, 姒, 拟, 泤, 𤤳, 䎣, 鉯, 䬮, 𥙩, 𢜁, 𭔈, 𭙪, 𭂄, 𫠪, 𬿠, 苡, 笖, 𠀳

Descendants

• い (Hiragana character derived from Man'yōgana)
• 𛀆 (Hentaigana (as a variant of い) or Hiragana (as the Japanese syllable 'yi') character derived from Man'yōgana)

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 94, character 1
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 388
• Dae Jaweon: page 199, character 1
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 105, character 7
• Unihan data for U+4EE5

Pronunciation

Definitions

以

1. a preposition that expresses a boundary in time, orientation, direction or quantity

   以前  ―  yǐqián  ―  before

   自古以來／自古以来  ―  zìgǔ yǐlái  ―  since time immemorial

   長安東路以西／长安东路以西  ―  cháng'ān dōng lù yǐxī  ―  west of Chang’an East Road

   價格在一千元以上。 [MSC, trad.]
   价格在一千元以上。 [MSC, simp.]

   Jiàgé zài yīqiān yuán yǐshàng. [Pinyin]

   The price is above one thousand yuan.

2. by; with; by means of

   以少勝多／以少胜多  ―  yǐ shǎo shèng duō  ―  to defeat (enemy troops) with a force inferior in number

   以德報怨／以德报怨  ―  yǐdébàoyuàn  ―  to return good for evil (literally, “to recompense injury with kindness”)

   以賣衣服為生／以卖衣服为生  ―  yǐ mài yīfú wéi shēng  ―  to make a living by selling clothes

   以大局為重／以大局为重  ―  yǐ dàjú wéi zhòng  ―  to focus on the big picture (literally, “to treat the big picture as [something] serious”)

   彼此以同樣的態度對待對方。 [MSC, trad.]
   彼此以同样的态度对待对方。 [MSC, simp.]

   Bǐcǐ yǐ tóngyàng de tàidù duìdài duìfāng. [Pinyin]

   One another treating an opposing side with the same attitude.

   • 投我以木瓜，報之以瓊琚。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     投我以木瓜，报之以琼琚。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Tóu wǒ yǐ mùguā, bào zhī yǐ qióngjū. [Pinyin]

     There was presented to me a papaya,
     And I returned for it a beautiful Ju-gem.

   • 3月21日，公司正式宣布，向文萊衛生部捐贈價值100萬美元的醫療物資和設備，以實際行動支持文萊抗疫。 [MSC, trad.]
     3月21日，公司正式宣布，向文莱卫生部捐赠价值100万美元的医疗物资和设备，以实际行动支持文莱抗疫。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 孙广勇, 赵益普 (2020 April 7) ““我们对加强文中互利合作充满信心”——中企为促进文莱经济稳定和发展作出贡献”, in People's Daily (in Chinese), page 17

     3 yuè 21 rì, gōngsī zhèngshì xuānbù, xiàng Wénlái wèishēng bù juānzèng jiàzhí 100 wàn měiyuán de yīliáo wùzī hé shèbèi, yǐ shíjì xíngdòng zhīchí wénlái kàngyì. [Pinyin]

     On March 21, the company officially announced the donation of one million US dollars’ worth of medical supplies and equipment to the Bruneian Ministry of Health, supporting Brunei’s resistance of the pandemic with concrete actions.

3. according to

   以大小排列  ―  yǐ dàxiǎo páiliè  ―  to arrange by size

   物以類聚／物以类聚  ―  wùyǐlèijù  ―  birds of a feather flock together (lit. things will be gathered together according to category)

   • 禮法以時而定，制令各順其宜，兵甲器備各便其用。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     礼法以时而定，制令各顺其宜，兵甲器备各便其用。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Lord Shang, circa 3^rd century BCE

     Lǐfǎ yǐ shí ér dìng, zhìlìng gè shùn qí yí, bīngjiǎ qìbèi gè biàn qí yòng. [Pinyin]

     As rites and laws were fixed in accordance with what was opportune, regulations and orders were all expedient, and weapons, armour, implements and equipment were all practical

4. so as to; in order to

   以正視聽／以正视听  ―  yǐzhèngshìtīng  ―  in order to ensure a correct understanding of the facts

   以防萬一／以防万一  ―  yǐfángwànyī  ―  just in case (literally, “to protect against a contingency”)

   市民對惡劣天氣要作出適當的預防措施，以減低可能引致的人命傷亡及財物損失。 [MSC, trad.]
   市民对恶劣天气要作出适当的预防措施，以减低可能引致的人命伤亡及财物损失。 [MSC, simp.]

   Shìmín duì èliè tiānqì yào zuòchū shìdāng de yùfáng cuòshī, yǐ jiǎndī kěnéng yǐnzhì de rénmìng shāngwáng jí cáiwù sǔnshī. [Pinyin]

   The public should take appropriate preventive measures against severe weather in order to minimize possible loss of life, injury and property damage.

5. because; because of

   勿以善小而不為 [MSC, trad.]
   勿以善小而不为 [MSC, simp.]

   wù yǐ shàn xiǎo ér bù wéi [Pinyin]

   do not fail to commit a good act just because it is small in scale.

   • 子曰：「君子不以言舉人，不以人廢言。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     子曰：「君子不以言举人，不以人废言。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Zǐ yuē: “Jūnzǐ bù yǐ yán jǔ rén, bù yǐ rén fèi yán.” [Pinyin]

     The Master said, "The superior man does not promote a man simply on account of his words, nor does he put aside good words because of the man."

   • 不以物喜，不以己悲。 [Literary Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: 1046, 范仲淹 (Fan Zhongyan), 《岳陽樓記》

     Bù yǐ wù xǐ, bù yǐ jǐ bēi. [Pinyin]

     [The ancient sages] were not thrilled nor depressed because of external objects or their own experiences.

6. (literary) therefore; thus

   • 昔吾有先正，其言明且清，國家以寧，都邑以成，庶民以生。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     昔吾有先正，其言明且清，国家以宁，都邑以成，庶民以生。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE

     Xī wú yǒu xiānzhèng, qí yán míng qiě qīng, guójiā yǐ níng, dōuyì yǐ chéng, shùmín yǐ shēng. [Pinyin]

     Once we had that former premier, His words were wise and pure; The states and clans by him were (therefore) at rest, The chief cities and towns by him were (therefore) well regulated, All the people by him (therefore) enjoyed their life.

   • 不宜妄自菲薄，引喻失義，以塞忠諫之路也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     不宜妄自菲薄，引喻失义，以塞忠谏之路也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 227, 諸葛亮 (Zhūgě Liàng) (Zhuge Liang), 出師表

     Bùyí wàngzìfěibó, yǐnyùshīyì, yǐ sè zhōngjiàn zhī lù yě. [Pinyin]

     In the meantime, it would be inadvisable to strain your modesty or make inapt remarks, thus blocking faithful remonstrances.

7. to use

   • 我辭禮矣，彼則以之。猶有鬼神，於彼加之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     我辞礼矣，彼则以之。犹有鬼神，于彼加之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE, translation from Zuozhuan: Commentary on the "Spring and Autumn Annals" (2017), by Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li and David Schaberg

     Wǒ cí lǐ yǐ, bǐ zé yǐ zhī. Yóu yǒu guǐshén, yú bǐ jiā zhī. [Pinyin]

     We had already declined the ritual, but they used it nonetheless. If there are indeed ghosts and spirits, they will inflict the consequences on them.”

8. (literary) to consider as

   • 臣誠知不如徐公美，臣之妻私臣，臣之妾畏臣，臣之客欲有求於臣，皆以美於徐公。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     臣诚知不如徐公美，臣之妻私臣，臣之妾畏臣，臣之客欲有求于臣，皆以美于徐公。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5^th – 3^rd centuries BCE

     Chén chéng zhī bùrú Xú gōng měi, chén zhī qī sī chén, chén zhī qiè wèi chén, chén zhī kè yù yǒu qiú yú chén, jiē yǐ měi yú Xú gōng. [Pinyin]

     I do indeed know that I am not as handsome as Xugong. My wife is biased towards me; my concubine fears me; my visitor had something he wanted from me; they all considered [me] more handsome than Xugong.

9. (literary) and

   • 情發於聲，聲成文謂之音。治世之音安以樂，其政和；亂世之音怨以怒，其政乖；亡國之音哀以思，其民困。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     情发于声，声成文谓之音。治世之音安以乐，其政和；乱世之音怨以怒，其政乖；亡国之音哀以思，其民困。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: the Great Preface to the Book of Poetry (《詩大序》), the given paragraph also appeared in the Book of Rites, finished sometime prior to the current era

     Qíng fā yú shēng, shēng chéngwén wèi zhī yīn. Zhìshì zhī yīn ān yǐ lè, qí zhèng hé; luànshì zhī yīn yuàn yǐ nù, qí zhèng guāi; wángguó zhī yīn āi yǐ sī, qí mín kùn. [Pinyin]

     Feelings emerge in sounds; when those sounds have patterning, they are called “tones.” The tones of a well-managed age are at rest and happy: its government is balanced. The tones of an age of turmoil are bitter and full of anger: its government is perverse. The tones of a ruined state are filled with lament and brooding: its people are in difficulty.

   • 夫夷以近則遊者眾，險以遠則至者少。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     夫夷以近则游者众，险以远则至者少。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: 1054, 王安石 (Wang Anshi), A Visit to the Baochan Mt 《遊褒禪山記》

     Fú yí yǐ jìn zé yóu zhě zhòng, xiǎn yǐ yuǎn zé zhì zhě shǎo. [Pinyin]

     Generally speaking, many people visit places that are safe and near while few frequent those that are dangerous and distant.

10. (literary) at; in; during (a specific time)

    • 武以始元六年春至京師。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
      武以始元六年春至京师。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

      From: The Book of Han, circa 1^st century CE

      Wǔ yǐ shǐyuán liùnián chūn zhì jīngshī. [Pinyin]

      In the spring of the sixth year of Shiyuan era [81 BCE] Su Wu reached the capital.

    • 余來以季夏，數日前，雪大降，木葉猶有雪漬斕斑之跡。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
      余来以季夏，数日前，雪大降，木叶犹有雪渍斓斑之迹。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

      From: 1177, 范成大 (Fan Chengda),《吳船錄》, translated by James M. Hargett

      Yú lái yǐ jìxià, shùrì qián, xuě dà jiàng, mùyè yóuyǒu xuě zì lánbān zhī jì. [Pinyin]

      I came here during the last month of summer. A few days ago there was a heavy snowfall. The tree leaves were still marked with mottled patterns of snow.

11. Short for 以色列 (Yǐsèliè, “Israel”).

    以巴衝突／以巴冲突  ―  Yǐ Bā chōngtū  ―  Israel-Palestinian conflict

12. a surname
13. (～母) (Chinese linguistics) the Middle Chinese initial of 以 (MC yiX), equivalent to the 4th 等 (děng) of the initial 喻 (MC yuH)

Compounds

Readings

• Go-on: い (i, Jōyō)
• Kan-on: い (i, Jōyō)
• Kun: おもう (omou, 以う)、ゆえに (yue ni, 以に)、もって (motte, 以て)

Compounds

Usage notes

• An expression prefixed with 以 means "from this reference point, and more". It can only be translated upon contexts. The reference point can be understood as "now", "here", "this", or aforementioned.
  • 以(い)上(じょう) (ijō): "or more/higher/above"; literally "from this point, and anything more/higher/above"
  • 以(い)下(か) (ika): "or less/lower/below"; literally "from this point, and anything less/lower/below"
  • 以(い)内(ない) (inai): "within"; literally "from this range, and anything within"
  • 以(い)外(がい) (igai): "outside, other than"; literally "from this range, and anything outside"
  • 以(い)前(ぜん) (izen): "ago"; literally "from this point, and anything before"
  • 以(い)後(ご) (igo): "later; ever since"; literally "from this point, and anything later"

Compounds

• 이전 (以前, ijeon, “before”)
• 이후 (以後, ihu, “after”)
• 이상 (以上, isang, “above; over”)
• 이하 (以下, iha, “below; under”)
• 이내 (以內, inae, “within; in”)
• 이래 (以來, irae, “since; after”)

References

• Vietnamese Nôm Preservation Foundation