Meaning of 免得
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- so as not to; so as to avoid
How to use 免得
免得 introduces the second clause of a sentence and names the bad result you want to prevent. It is common in everyday speech, often after advice or a reminder. Example: 多穿点衣服，免得感冒。(Duō chuān diǎn yīfu, miǎnde gǎnmào.) Wear more clothes so you don't catch a cold.
免 (miǎn) means to avoid or be spared, and 得 (de) here links it to what follows. Think of 免得 as "avoid getting" something bad: do this now, avoid getting trouble later.
Common mistake: Learners often add 不 after 免得, as in 免得不迟到. That is wrong, because 免得 already carries the meaning of "not". Say 早点走，免得迟到 (zǎo diǎn zǒu, miǎnde chídào).
免得 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
免 miǎn · to excuse sb · 7 strokes
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得 dé · to obtain · 11 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 免得.
| 觉得 | juéde | to think that ...; to feel that ...; to feel (uncomfortable etc) |
| 得到 | dédào | to get; to obtain; to receive |
| 记得 | jìde | to remember |
| 懂得 | dǒngde | to understand; to know; to comprehend |
| 取得 | qǔdé | to acquire; to get; to obtain |
| 得出 | déchū | to obtain (a result); to arrive at (a conclusion) |
| 不得不 | bùdébù | have no choice or option but to; cannot but |
| 值得 | zhídé | worth the money; to merit; to deserve; to be worth (doing sth) |
| 认得 | rènde | to recognize; to remember sth (or sb) on seeing it |
| 显得 | xiǎnde | to seem; to look |
| 得分 | défēn | to score a point (in a competition, test etc); score; rating; grade |
| 获得 | huòdé | to obtain; to receive; to get |
Questions about 免得
What does 免得 mean?
免得 (miǎnde) means "so as not to; so as to avoid" and is used as a conjunction.
How do you write 免得?
免得 is made of 2 characters: 免 (7 strokes), 得 (11 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.
Is 免得 an HSK word?
Yes. 免得 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 免得 and 以免?
Both mean "so as to avoid" and usually start the second clause. 以免 (yǐmiǎn) sounds more formal and written, while 免得 is more conversational.
Can 免得 start a sentence?
Normally no. 免得 follows a first clause that states the action, such as 你先打个电话，免得他担心 (nǐ xiān dǎ gè diànhuà, miǎnde tā dānxīn), "Call first so he won't worry."