yǐ
by means of
Original meaning:
carry
Depicts a person (人) carrying something.
Components
Evolution
![以 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC) 以 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)](https://data.dong-chinese.com/img/sinica/%E4%BB%A5_0.png)
Oracle script
(~1250-1000 BC)![以 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC) 以 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)](https://data.dong-chinese.com/img/sinica/%E4%BB%A5_3.png)
Bronze script
Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)![以 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD) 以 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)](https://data.dong-chinese.com/img/sinica/%E4%BB%A5_6.png)
Seal script
Shuowen (~100 AD)![以 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD) 以 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)](https://data.dong-chinese.com/img/sinica/%E4%BB%A5_14.png)
Clerical script
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)Regular script
ModernDefinitions
Most common words with 以
Freq. | Word | Meaning |
---|---|---|
can | ||
to use | ||
therefore | ||
to think (i.e. to take it to be true that ...) (Usually there is an implication that the notion is mistaken – except when expressing one's own current opinion.) | ||
before |
Sources
季旭昇《說文新證》p.980