HSK 7
⋯⋯，以免/免得⋯⋯
⋯ ⋯ ， yǐ miǎn / miǎn de ⋯ ⋯
The structure '以免/免得' expressing a preventive purpose
Explanation
⋯⋯，以免/免得⋯⋯ (yǐmiǎn / miǎnde) is a compound-sentence structure of purpose (stating the purpose of an action) meaning "so as to avoid, lest," indicating that the action in the former clause aims to prevent a bad result in the latter clause.
(a proactive preventive action) + 以免/免得 + (the undesirable result to be avoided).
when advising or urging someone to do something in order to prevent a bad consequence; the clause after 以免/免得 is always the negative thing one wants to avoid.
以免 leans somewhat toward written/formal language, 免得 leans toward colloquial; their meanings are nearly the same and in most cases they can replace each other.
placing a good thing (the thing you want to achieve) after 以免/免得 (wrong — what follows must be a bad thing to avoid); redundantly pairing "为了...以免..." with a superfluous purpose; reversing the order by putting 以免 at the start of the sentence (it must stand in the latter clause).
Examples
When you are out and about, keep a close eye on your belongings, lest you lose them.
Write this down, lest you forget it later.
Practice
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Learn “⋯⋯，以免/免得⋯⋯” effectively
The grammar point “⋯⋯，以免/免得⋯⋯” (The structure '以免/免得' expressing a preventive purpose) is one of the key structures at HSK 7. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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