免得
HSK 5- Conjunctions
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
免得 is used to indicate that the action in the preceding clause is intended to prevent an undesirable outcome that might occur, as expressed in the following clause.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
Like 'để khỏi', 'kẻo', 'để tránh' in Vietnamese, 免得 is a conjunction (连词) used to connect two clauses. The first clause presents an action or suggestion, while the clause following 免得 states an undesirable outcome that the speaker wants to avoid.
This structure is very common in spoken language and carries a tone of reminder or advice. Compared to 以免, 免得 is more informal and colloquial.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 你再检查一遍，免得有错。繁: 你再檢查一遍，免得有錯。Nǐ zài jiǎnchá yí biàn, miǎnde yǒu cuò.
Check it once more to avoid any mistakes.
- 快点走吧，免得迟到了。繁: 快點走吧，免得遲到了。Kuài diǎn zǒu ba, miǎnde chídào le.
Hurry up and go, so as not to be late.
- 多带点钱，免得不够用。繁: 多帶點錢，免得不夠用。Duō dài diǎn qián, miǎnde bú gòu yòng.
Bring some extra money so you won't run short.
- 早点睡吧，免得明天起不来。繁: 早點睡吧，免得明天起不來。Zǎo diǎn shuì ba, miǎnde míngtiān qǐ bu lái.
Go to bed early, or you won't be able to get up tomorrow.
- 我把地址写下来，免得忘了。繁: 我把地址寫下來，免得忘了。Wǒ bǎ dìzhǐ xiě xiàlái, miǎnde wàng le.
I wrote down the address so I wouldn't forget it.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我努力学习，免得考上大学。Correct:我努力学习，为了考上大学。
免得 is used to indicate the purpose of **avoiding** something bad, not achieving a good goal. Use 为了 to express achieving a goal.
- Wrong:免得感冒，你多穿件衣服。Correct:你多穿件衣服，免得感冒。
The standard structure is 'action first, 免得 + result to be avoided' following after. Reversing the order sounds unnatural.