以便

So as to (Formal)

Level 5Sounds Like ji5 bin6

Use 以便 (ji5 bin6) in formal contexts to mean 'so as to' or 'in order to facilitate.' It links a preparatory action to a positive result.

How It Works

1. Formal Register
Unlike the casual 等 (dang2), 以便 is strictly for formal settings like business emails, government notices, or MTR announcements. Using it in a casual chat with friends would sound overly stiff.

2. Positive Purpose Only
This pattern is used exclusively for positive goals. If you want to express avoiding a negative outcome, you must use 以免 (ji5 min5) instead.

3. Sentence Structure
The pattern follows: [Action] + ， + 以便 + [Purpose].
If the subject changes in the second clause, the new subject follows 以便 immediately (e.g., 以便我哋... / so that we can...).

4. Comparison with 為了 (wai6 liu5)
While 為咗 (wai6 zo2) (the spoken form of 為了) can appear at the start of a sentence, 以便 must always follow the action clause. It emphasizes the 'facilitation' of the result.

Examples (4)

  1. 請提供聯絡電話，以便日後跟進。

    Please provide a contact number so as to follow up in the future.

    Word by Word: Please provide contact phone, so as to future follow up.

    This is a standard formal request. The action (providing a phone number) facilitates the purpose (following up).

  2. 請填妥表格，以便本局處理閣下的申請。

    Please complete the form so that this bureau can process your application.

    Word by Word: Please fill complete form, so as to this bureau process your application.

    Note the use of the formal '閣下' (gok3 haa6) for 'you' and '本局' (bun2 guk6) for 'this bureau,' matching the formal register of 以便.

  3. 請準時出席，以便會議順利進行。

    Please attend on time so that the meeting can proceed smoothly.

    Word by Word: Please on time attend, so as to meeting smooth proceed.

    Here, the action of arriving on time is the condition that allows the meeting to run smoothly.

  4. 我哋要先做好準備，以便應付聽日嘅挑戰。

    We need to prepare well first, so as to handle tomorrow's challenges.

    Word by Word: We need first do good preparation, so as to handle tomorrow's challenge.

    Even in slightly less formal 'spoken-style' writing, 以便 adds a tone of seriousness and professional intent.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 以便 in casual conversation.

    我買定飛以便聽晚去睇戲。
    我買定飛等聽晚去睇戲。

    In daily speech, use '等' (dang2) or '等我可以' (dang2 ngo5 ho2 ji5). Using 以便 sounds like a robot or a formal document.

  • Confusing 以便 with 以免 (ji5 min5).

    帶多件衫以便感冒。
    帶多件衫以免感冒。

    以便 is for positive goals (so that you CAN). 以免 is for negative goals (so that you DON'T). You don't want to 'facilitate' a cold!

  • Placing the purpose before the action.

    以便處理，請填表。
    請填表，以便處理。

    Unlike '為了' (wai6 liu5), which can start a sentence, 以便 must be placed between the action and the purpose.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

以便Level 5So as to (Formal)

Learn This First

以便 is a formal conjunction used to express a positive purpose ('so as to' or 'in order to'). To understand it, learners should already be familiar with how to express purpose in colloquial Cantonese using 為咗 or 嚟, and they should understand the concept of written-style Cantonese (書面語) since this pattern is primarily used in formal or administrative contexts.

Words in This Pattern

以便