以 (yǐ) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 以 (yǐ) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 以 (yǐ) means "with; by; in order to". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 4 strokes and the radical 人.

Q: How do you write 以 stroke by stroke?

以 has 4 strokes. The radical is 人. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 以 and 人?

以 (yǐ) and 人 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 以?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 人. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 以?

Common words containing 以 include: 以后 (yǐ hòu) — after; later; in the future; 以前 (yǐ qián) — before; previously; in the past; 可以 (kě yǐ) — can; may.

How to Write 以

The character 以 (yǐ) is written with 4 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 人 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

以 is pronounced yǐ in Mandarin Chinese. It means with; by; in order to.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 以 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 以

以后 yǐ hòu

after; later; in the future

以前 yǐ qián

before; previously; in the past

可以 kě yǐ

can; may

Example Sentences

吃饭以后去散步。

chī fàn yǐ hòu qù sàn bù

Go for a walk after eating.

我以前住在这里。

wǒ yǐ qián zhù zài zhè lǐ

I used to live here.

我可以坐这里吗？

wǒ kě yǐ zuò zhè lǐ ma

Can I sit here?

Similar Characters

人 rén

亻 rén

亼 jí

Practice Writing 以 (yǐ)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 以 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 以

What does 以 (yǐ) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 以 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 以 and 人?

What mistakes do learners make writing 以?

What common words use 以?

How to Write 以 (yǐ)