以免

Lest (Formal)

Level 5Sounds Like ji5 min5

Use 以免 (ji5 min5) in formal contexts to connect an action with a negative result you want to prevent. It is the standard way to say 'to avoid...' in public announcements and official writing.

How It Works

以免 (ji5 min5) is an essential pattern for navigating formal life in Hong Kong. While it originates from Standard Written Chinese, it is fully integrated into formal Cantonese speech and writing.

1. Usage and Register
You will encounter 以免 (ji5 min5) daily in MTR announcements, government notices, and business emails. It sounds authoritative and professional. In casual conversation, speakers usually switch to 費事 (fai3 si6) or 免得 (min5 dak1).

2. Grammatical Constraints

  • It is a conjunction, not a verb. To say 'I want to avoid injury,' you must use the verb 避免 (bei6 min5).
  • It does not take aspect markers like 咗 (zo2) or 緊 (gan2).
  • The clause following 以免 (ji5 min5) should be the negative outcome itself. Do not add a negator that cancels the unwanted result (the pair 以免唔跌親 would mean you want to fall), because the 'avoidance' is already built into the word. A negative that belongs to the bad result itself is fine, as in 以免唔夠.

Examples (4)

  1. 請保持安靜，以免影響他人。

    Please keep quiet so as not to affect others.

    Word by Word: Please keep quiet, so as to avoid affecting other people.

    A common sign found in libraries or hospitals. 以免 (ji5 min5) connects the request (quiet) to the prevention of the nuisance.

  2. 請在黃線後等候，以免發生危險。

    Please wait behind the yellow line to avoid danger.

    Word by Word: Please at yellow line behind wait, so as to avoid happening danger.

    Standard MTR announcement. Note how 以免 (ji5 min5) introduces the specific danger being prevented.

  3. 請鎖好門窗，以免賊人入屋。

    Please lock doors and windows to prevent burglars from entering.

    Word by Word: Please lock-good doors windows, so as to avoid thieves enter house.

    Formal advice often seen in residential building notices.

  4. 出發前請先預約，以免白跑一趟。

    Please make an appointment before leaving to avoid a wasted trip.

    Word by Word: Depart before please first reserve, so as to avoid white run one trip.

    Used in business or service contexts. '白跑一趟' is an idiom for making a trip in vain.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 以免 as a main verb.

    我想以免受傷。
    我想避免受傷。

    以免 (ji5 min5) is a conjunction. If you need a verb meaning 'to avoid', use 避免 (bei6 min5).

  • Double negation after 以免.

    小心行路，以免唔跌親。
    小心行路，以免跌親。

    以免 (ji5 min5) already implies 'so that [bad thing] does NOT happen'. Adding 唔 (m4) creates a double negative that technically means you want to avoid NOT falling.

  • Using 以免 in very casual speech.

    Different Meaning帶把遮啦，以免淋濕。
    帶把遮啦，費事淋濕。

    While grammatically correct, 以免 (ji5 min5) sounds too stiff when talking to friends. Use 費事 (fai3 si6) for casual 'to avoid' situations.

How It Connects

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

以免Level 5Lest (Formal)

Learn This First

以免 is a formal conjunction used to express negative purpose ('to avoid' or 'lest'). It is primarily found in written contexts or formal speech. Learners should already be familiar with how Cantonese distinguishes between spoken and written registers, as well as the colloquial way to express the same idea using '費事'.

Words in This Pattern

以免