by means of

Original meaning: 

carry

Depicts a person () carrying something.

Components
◎ iconic component

  Iconic component

  

characterless component

Depicts something being carried.

人 iconic component

  Iconic component

rén

  

person

Evolution

以 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
以 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
以 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
以 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
以 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

by means of; thereby, therefore; consider as; in order to; to use; according to; because of; at (a certain date or place)

 

abbr. for Israel 以色列[Yǐ​sè​liè]

() 

old variant of [yǐ]

Most common words with 以
Freq.
Word
Meaning

可以

can

to use

所以

therefore

以为

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.)

以前

before

Component uses

Sound component in 4 characters (2 verified)