Chinese word

得以

Pronunciation

Pinyindé yǐ

Meaning

  • auxiliary verbbe able to

Example

调整计划后，我们得以按时完成。tiáo zhěng jì huà hòu wǒ men dé yǐ àn shí wán chéng

After adjusting the plan, we were able to finish on time.

Illustration for 得以 (be able to)

More examples

改革后，企业得以提高竞争力。gǎi gé hòu qǐ yè dé yǐ tí gāo jìng zhēng lì

After the reform, businesses were able to improve their competitiveness.

Core concept

A door to an action opens because an earlier change or condition makes it possible.

Common phrases

  • 得以完成dé yǐ wán chéng

    be able to finish

  • 得以实现dé yǐ shí xiàn

    be able to realize

  • 得以解决dé yǐ jiě jué

    be able to resolve

Similar words

可以ké yǐ: Show that circumstances allow an action or state to be possible.
能够néng gòu: Show that a person or thing has the ability or conditions to do something.
可kě: State concisely in formal writing that something can be done.

Definition in Chinese

表示由于某种条件或某种行为，使得某事成为可能，常用于书面或正式语境，结构为“得以＋动词”。biǎo shì yóu yú móu zhǒng tiáo jiàn huò móu zhǒng xíng wéi shǐ de mǒu shì chéng wéi kě néng cháng yòng yú shū miàn huò zhèng shì yǔ jìng jié gòu wèi dé yǐ dòng cí

Word origin

The classical meanings of 得 (dé, "be able to") and 以 (yǐ, "by means of") joined to express an ability made possible by a particular condition.

Usage tips

  • This form is common in formal writing when a result follows a change, decision, or other enabling condition, but casual speech often uses a simpler expression.

Opposites

  • 无法wú fǎnot be able toauxiliary verb
  • 未能wèi néngnot be able toauxiliary verb

Word lists with this word