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March 24, 2026
免得miǎnde(mian3de5)
免得 (miǎn de) is used to express the idea of preventing something undesirable from happening. It often precedes a clause to indicate the purpose of avoiding negative consequences, making it useful in both spoken and written contexts.
Frequency#6585DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of avoiding embarrassment or negative outcomes is significant, often reflected in indirect communication and the use of expressions like 免得 to navigate social situations smoothly.
Memory Tip
Think of '免' (miǎn) as a shield that protects you from bad outcomes. Imagine a deer ('得' sounds like 'deer') that avoids a trap by jumping away—'免得' means to jump away to avoid trouble.
Meanings of 免得
miǎnde(mian3de5)
1so as not to
2so as to avoid
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About 免得
免得Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
连词连词conjunction (conj.)Part of Speech
#6585Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 免得
Podcast: 免得
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AI Study Notes for 免得
Quick Contrast
以免 (yǐmiǎn) — use 免得 for direct prevention of an undesirable event, while 以免 emphasizes the intention or reason behind avoiding that event.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of '免' (miǎn) as a shield that protects you from bad outcomes. Imagine a deer ('得' sounds like 'deer') that avoids a trap by jumping away—'免得' means to jump away to avoid trouble.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 免得 with other similar conjunctions like '以免' (yǐ miǎn), which has a more formal tone. Remember that 免得 is often used in more informal contexts, while '以免' can sound more literary or formal.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 免得 can be connected to other advanced vocabulary that expresses intention or consequence. Students should focus on how to use it in complex sentences and with different verb forms to enhance fluency.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of avoiding embarrassment or negative outcomes is significant, often reflected in indirect communication and the use of expressions like 免得 to navigate social situations smoothly.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to use a negative verb form after 免得. For example, saying '免得我迟到' (miǎn de wǒ chí dào) is incorrect; it should be '免得我不迟到' (miǎn de wǒ bù chí dào).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 免得
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Grammar Patterns of 免得
免得 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
" Give me Qiu Bao , so that he won't cry when you leave. "
3
用碗把菜扣上,免得凉了.
yòng wǎn bǎ cài kòu shàng, , miǎn dé liáng.
Cover the food with a bowl to keep it from getting cold.
4
要把盖子轻轻地敲下去,免得把里面的东西打碎.
yào bǎ gài zǐ qīng qīng dì qiāo xià qù, , miǎn dé bǎ lǐ miàn de dōng xī dǎ.
Tap the lid down carefully so as not to break the contents.
5
帕特里克把门抬起来免得刮着地面.
pà tè lǐ kè bǎ mén tái qǐ lái miǎn dé guā zháo dì miàn.
Patrick lifted the gate to prevent It'scraping along the ground.
6
把你娶媳妇应办的事早些料理料理, 免得到时丢三落四的.
bǎ nǐ qǔ xí fù yīng bàn de shì zǎo xiē liào lǐ liào lǐ, , miǎn dé dào shí diū sān luò sì.
You should make preparations in good time for your own wedding . We don't want to find , when the time comes , that we've forgotten this, that and the other.
Cultural Notes for 免得
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of avoiding embarrassment or negative outcomes is significant, often reflected in indirect communication and the use of expressions like 免得 to navigate social situations smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions about 免得
No, 免得 typically follows a clause and cannot stand alone at the beginning.
Yes, it is specifically used to indicate avoidance of something undesirable.
While it can be paired with many verbs, ensure that the verb relates to an action that can lead to a negative consequence.
