1. conjunction so as to; in order to
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: In the sense of 因此 (Guoyu '以' conj 3; Rouzer 2007, p. 10; Unihan '以')
  2. preposition to use; to regard as
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: May be used as a coverb in this sense, in a serial verb construction. A second form is 以 A 为 B, 'regard A as B.' (Pulleyblank 1995, p. 49)
  3. verb to use; to grasp
    Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
    Notes: In Literary Chinese, 以 can be used as a main verb, 以 is a transitive verb with two objects. In this use, it has the form '以 A B', which means 'use A to do B'. It can also take the form 'B 以 A', which means the same thing. The object A is the instrument by which the action B is performed. For example, 杀人以梃 'to kill a person using a club.' (Guoyu '以' v 1; Pulleyblank 1995, p. 47, quote from Meng 1A/4)
  4. preposition according to
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: In the sense of 按 (Guoyu '以' prep 2)
  5. preposition because of
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: In the sense of 因为; may also be thought of as a coverb when used in this sense in Literary Chinese (Guoyu '以' prep. 1; Pulleyblank 1995, p. 162)
  6. preposition on a certain date
    Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
    Notes:
  7. conjunction and; as well as
    Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
    Notes: (Guoyu '以' conj 4)
  8. verb to rely on
    Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
    Notes: In the sense of 仰赖 (Guoyu '以' v 2)
  9. verb to regard
    Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
    Notes: In the sense of 认为 (Guoyu '以' v 3)
  10. verb to be able to
    Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
    Notes: In the sense of 能够 (Guoyu '以' v 4)
  11. verb to order; to command
    Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
    Notes: In the sense of 令 (Guoyu '以' v 5)
  12. conjunction further; moreover
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: In the sense of 而 or 且 (Guoyu '以' conj 1)
  13. auxiliary verb used after a verb
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: In this usage 以 is placed after a verb without meaning (Guoyu '以' aux)
  14. adverb very
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: In this usage 以 is an adverb with the same meaning 太 or 甚 (Guoyu '以' aux)
  15. adverb already
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: In the sense of 已经 (Guoyu '以' aux)
  16. adverb increasingly
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: In the sense of 愈益 (Guoyu '以' aux)
  17. noun a reason; a cause
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: In the sense of 缘故 (Guoyu '以' n 1)
  18. proper noun Israel
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Asia , Concept: Country 国家
    Notes: An abbreviation for 以色列 (Guoyu '以' n 2)
  19. proper noun Yi
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Names , Concept: Surname 姓氏
    Notes: (Guoyu '以' n 3)
  20. noun use; yogena
    Domain: Buddhism 佛教
    Notes: Sanskrit equivalent: yogena (BCSD '以', p. 102; MW 'yogena')

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Also contained in

以柔克刚以儆效尤知其然而不知其所以然以子之矛,攻子之盾以少合众可以意会,不可言传以是俭以防匮检民以德难以消受以斯拉记坐以待毙以夜继日授人以鱼不如授人以渔夜以继日难以实现宽以待人以色列欺以其方以貌取人以至于以下星星之火,可以燎原得可以老吾老,以及人之老,幼吾幼,以及人之幼嗤之以鼻一言以蔽之以公灭私美以美一则以喜,一则以忧以斯帖拭目以待受命以来老吾老以及人之老以西结书以卵击石以此为准努力以赴以一驭万以邻为壑以碫投卵

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Truncated for common words