<p>Here's what Paul Rouzer has to say on 以 in his <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/067402270X" rel="nofollow noreferrer">New Practical Primer of Literary Chinese</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>1.5 <strong>以</strong>: This is one of the most frequently used characters in literary Chinese, and it has a very wide application. It was originally a verb meaning “to take,” “to use.” Eventually, it started to be used in combination with other verbs (what English language scholars often call a coverb). <strong>It serves the same purpose as English prepositions</strong> like “with,” “by means of,” and “through.” It usually comes before the main verb, and it is followed by its own special object:</p>
  
  <p>天以禍報爲不善者。Heaven repays with disaster the person who does evil.</p>
  
  <p>In this example, 報 is the main verb, and 爲不善者 is its object. 以
  is the coverb, and 禍 is the object of the coverb.</p>
  
  <p>Other examples:</p>
  
  <p>Identify the object of the coverb in each case: </p>
  
  <p>聖人以德導小人。 The wise person leads the petty person with virtue. </p>
  
  <p>自禁者以德導欲。 The person who restrains herself leads her desires with virtue.</p>
  
  <p>1.6 <strong>Shifting the coverb position</strong>: However, if a writer wants to put special emphasis on the thing that gets used (as in text #3), he or she will place the coverb and its object <strong>after the main verb</strong>:</p>
  
  <p>小人導心以耳目: The petty person leads his heart with his ears and eyes.</p>
  
  <p>Another, more awkward way of expressing the same sense: “It is with his ears and
  eyes that the petty person leads his heart."</p>
  
  <p>知己者報人以善: It is with good that the one who knows herself rewards others.</p>
  
  <p>小人報天以怨: It is with resentment that the petty person rewards Heaven.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Based on point 1.5, a literal translation of 時間給勤奮者以榮譽，給懶漢以恥辱 might be:</p>

<pre><code>時間  給       勤奮者       以   榮譽  ，     給       懶漢     以    恥辱
Time provides the diligent with honour, and provides the lazy with disgrace.
</code></pre>

<p>Additionally, according to point 1.6, when the coverb (here 以) is placed after the main verb (here 給), it puts more emphasis on the thing after the coverb (here 榮譽 ‘honour’ and 恥辱 ‘disgrace’). Therefore, an even more literal translation (though a very awkward one) could be:</p>

<p><code>It is with honour that time provides the diligent, and it is with disgrace that time provides the lazy.</code></p>

<p>That should explain the use of 以, which in this case basically means ‘with’. Of course, a natural-sounding translation cannot be as literal as the ones above.</p>

<p><strong>Note:</strong> 以 can be translated as ‘with’ <strong>in this particular context</strong>. It doesn't mean that ‘with’ is always a correct translation if 以. In particular, 以 does <strong>not</strong> mean ‘together with’, and is therefore different from words such as 和，与，跟， 一起 and so on. As we can see in the above quote, 以 may in other context be expressed with ‘take’, ‘use’, ‘by means of’ and ‘through’.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-22T23:10:22.823Z
I'm curious: If 以 here is 'with', would you be happy to replace it with '和，与，跟， 一起‘ or some other word for with?
Gangosa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-22T23:19:30.423Z
@Gangosa I don't think that could work. The characters you listed mean ‘together with’, and the phrase “Time provides the diligent *together with* honour” doesn't make sense. Here we have a different meaning of *with*.
米好 '-'
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-23T05:06:49.220Z
If you are 'with' you are 'together'. There is no 'with' without 'being together'.
Gangosa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-23T12:03:16.870Z
@Gangosa I don't think we disagree, maybe we simply want to say the same thing in a different way. I clarified my answer a bit.
米好 '-'
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-24T01:27:10.540Z
Think of it as an extension of the narrower sense of 以 as 用/"using": "time gives you something using honor" > "time gives you honor"
Master Sparkles
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-27T13:43:01.707Z
If 以 acts as "by means of" why then there is "通过以" (by means of by means of :) in this sentence? 他给前同事、新任中国总理温家宝写了一封信，告诉他通过以房养老计划，中国退休人员“可以衣食无忧”。
coobit
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-27T23:07:15.703Z
@coobit I think you're comparing apples and oranges here. The OP's quote is written in Literary Chinese (文言文), which generally follows Classical Chinese grammar. Your quote is clearly modern written Chinese (書面語), which generally follows modern Mandarin grammar.
米好 '-'
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-28T10:07:26.953Z
米好, you are right. My bad. Sorry. So in my example 通过 now means what  以 used to mean, and 以 today is more of a "marker" and not a verb/adverb at all.
coobit
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-22T14:21:48.297Z
2016-12-28T10:33:38.017Z
2016-12-28T10:33:38.017Z
米好 '-'
<p>“给 A 以 B” is an extremely formal way of “把 B 给 A”. So formal that other answers have to refer to ancient books to explain it.</p>

<p>In short, here 以 is almost the same as 把. However, while 把 is usually in front of the verb, 以 is usually after the verb.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-29T15:28:08.273Z
2020-04-29T15:28:08.273Z
River
<p>Yes, 以 has many meanings <a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/461/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/461/</a></p>

<p><a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/users/3966/%E7%B1%B3%E5%A5%BD">米好 '-'</a> 's answer is a good one. "<strong>以</strong>" in : “时间给勤奋者<strong>以</strong>荣誉，给懒汉<strong>以</strong>耻辱.” do mean "with". </p>

<p>As in : "<em>provides the diligent <strong>with</strong> honour</em>" </p>

<p>But "with" also has many meanings <a href="http://www.dictionary.com/browse/with" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.dictionary.com/browse/with</a>. We have to look at the context to decide which meaning of "with" we are talking about.</p>

<p>In this case, we can see 'Time' is the subject, and ' honor' is an object that time gives and 'diligent people' is an indirect object (recipient of honor).</p>

<p>"Time gives honor to diligent people" = "Time provides the diligent with honor. "</p>

<p>以(with) before the noun 'honor' is a preposition that indicates 'honor' is the direct object  and 'diligent people' is indirect object</p>

<p>If we omit 以(with) in the sentence and write: "时间给勤奋者荣誉" (Time provides honor to the diligent) the meaning of the sentence would almost be the same. Using preposition 'with' before 'honor' is for emphasizing it.</p>

<p>*personaly, I prefer writing "时间给勤奋者荣誉" which is a simpler structure, and less chance of confusion after transliterated to English "Time provides honor to the diligent"  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-22T15:34:23.680Z
2016-12-22T15:46:49.567Z
2017-04-13T12:48:06.457Z
Tang Ho
<p>I would respectfully disagree with the 2 answers. If 以 cannot be replaced with another word for 'with', why assume 以 means with? Just because English uses 'provide with'? That is a rash assumption. Would you also change 给 for 提供 here?</p>

<p>时间给勤奋者以荣誉，给懒汉以耻辱</p>

<p>Time, for the hardworking, leads to honour, for the lazybones, leads to disgrace.</p>

<p>Look here for various meanings of 以:</p>

<p><a href="http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E4%BB%A5" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E4%BB%A5</a></p>

<p>The second one down says:</p>

<p>表示率領、帶領。如《左傳．僖公四年》：「四年春，齊侯以諸侯之師侵蔡。」《國語．周語》：「（富辰）乃以其屬死之。」韋昭注：「帥其徒屬，以死狄師。」</p>

<p>The linguists or professors at HK Uni, presumably using their great knowledge of Chinese wrote this:</p>

<p>‘以’表示率領、帶領。 </p>

<p>They equate 以 with 率领 or 带领, both of which mean lead. (They may also, of course, err.)</p>

<p>四年春，齊侯以諸侯之師侵蔡。</p>

<p>If I simplify this sentence I get: 齊侯以諸侯之師 Qihou lead (率领） the Zhuhou army.</p>

<p>In the year 4 in springtime, Qihou lead the Zhuhou army and invaded Cai.</p>

<p>What makes no sense?</p>

<p>时间给勤奋者以荣誉 Time leads the hardworking to honour. </p>

<p>This is, of course, figurative language, as 'time' cannot physically 'lead', as did 齊侯 when he invaded (侵) 蔡. We could change 'lead' for 'results in': Time results in （leads to) honour for the hardworking. The meaning is unchanged: Time passes, honour accrues.</p>

<p>Makes good sense to me.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-23T07:40:46.667Z
齊侯 is the subject. 侵(invaded) is the main verb, and 蔡 is the object.; 以(use/implement) is the sub-verb in the relative phrase '以諸侯之師'. When  using 以 as " to lead" it means the object is being "used / implemented" if you apply this meaning to the quote "时间给勤奋者以荣誉" you are saying "Time use honor as a mean to give to hard workers" -Time is using 'honor'  as a tool or instrument. And not mention what is given-- it makes no sense
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-23T05:03:32.677Z
2016-12-27T05:34:15.137Z
2016-12-27T05:34:15.137Z
Gangosa
<blockquote>
  <p>时间给勤奋者以荣誉，给懒汉以耻辱。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This is a quote from Gao Shiqi.  I understand the basic meaning of it, but what is a good way to define the usage of 以？ It can mean many different things in Chinese and is sometimes confusing.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-22T14:10:55.120Z
I am not sure secretary in Manchurian dyansty like "高士奇"  will write such "modern" quote. China spam contents mills duplicates a lots of fake stuff and junks from junks writer.
mootmoot
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-22T15:18:14.257Z
bkrs： 给以 confer on sb.supply; donate; give] 给; 给予
给与。如：「朋友有困难的时候，我们要给以帮助。」
犹予以。多用於抽象事物，similar to 授以, see previous question about 授人以鱼不如授人以渔 http://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/20911/what-is-the-function-and-or-meaning-of-the-2-%E4%BB%A5-in-this-phrase/20917#20917
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-29T00:39:04.177Z
cf。Yip Po-Ching, The Chinese Lexicon, Verbal Affixes, 。。。verbs (and sometimes adjectives,i.e. stative verbs) are particularly receptive to a set of   _suffixes_   beginning with y-: 于 ：濒于、等于、属于、在于、出于、限于、敢于、急于、便于、善于、富于、忠于。   **以**   ：借以、so as to;by way of,得以、so that ...can..用以，in order to,加以、[action] to be taken,可以、can, may,予以、bestow,(added by user: similarly 给以，授以) 足以、sufficient to, 难以 difficult to, 予 ： 赐予、赋予、给予、授予、准予、寄予 (translations for 于,予 omitted) ...以 highlights the purpose of an action, whether it is realizable or not
user6065
<grammar><meaning-in-context>
How is 以 used in 时间给勤奋者以荣誉，给懒汉以耻辱?
# How is 以 used in 时间给勤奋者以荣誉，给懒汉以耻辱?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-12-22)

> 时间给勤奋者以荣誉，给懒汉以耻辱。

This is a quote from Gao Shiqi. I understand the basic meaning of it, but what is a good way to define the usage of 以？ It can mean many different things in Chinese and is sometimes confusing.

**Tags:** grammar, meaning-in-context

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I am not sure secretary in Manchurian dyansty like "高士奇"  will write such "modern" quote. China spam contents mills duplicates a lots of fake stuff and junks from junks writer.  
> **username_2**: bkrs： 给以 confer on sb.supply; donate; give] 给; 给予 给与。如：「朋友有困难的时候，我们要给以帮助。」 犹予以。多用於抽象事物，similar to 授以, see previous question about 授人以鱼不如授人以渔 http://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/20911/what-is-the-function-and-or-meaning-of-the-2-%E4%BB%A5-in-this-phrase/20917#20917  
> **username_2**: cf。Yip Po-Ching, The Chinese Lexicon, Verbal Affixes, 。。。verbs (and sometimes adjectives,i.e. stative verbs) are particularly receptive to a set of   _suffixes_   beginning with y-: 于 ：濒于、等于、属于、在于、出于、限于、敢于、急于、便于、善于、富于、忠于。   **以**   ：借以、so as to;by way of,得以、so that ...can..用以，in order to,加以、[action] to be taken,可以、can, may,予以、bestow,(added by user: similarly 给以，授以) 足以、sufficient to, 难以 difficult to, 予 ： 赐予、赋予、给予、授予、准予、寄予 (translations for 于,予 omitted) ...以 highlights the purpose of an action, whether it is realizable or not  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-12-22. Score: 4

Here's what Paul Rouzer has to say on 以 in his [New Practical Primer of Literary Chinese](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/067402270X):

> 1.5 **以**: This is one of the most frequently used characters in literary Chinese, and it has a very wide application. It was originally a verb meaning “to take,” “to use.” Eventually, it started to be used in combination with other verbs (what English language scholars often call a coverb). **It serves the same purpose as English prepositions** like “with,” “by means of,” and “through.” It usually comes before the main verb, and it is followed by its own special object:
>
> 天以禍報爲不善者。Heaven repays with disaster the person who does evil.
>
> In this example, 報 is the main verb, and 爲不善者 is its object. 以
> is the coverb, and 禍 is the object of the coverb.
>
> Other examples:
>
> Identify the object of the coverb in each case:
>
> 聖人以德導小人。 The wise person leads the petty person with virtue.
>
> 自禁者以德導欲。 The person who restrains herself leads her desires with virtue.
>
> 1.6 **Shifting the coverb position**: However, if a writer wants to put special emphasis on the thing that gets used (as in text #3), he or she will place the coverb and its object **after the main verb**:
>
> 小人導心以耳目: The petty person leads his heart with his ears and eyes.
>
> Another, more awkward way of expressing the same sense: “It is with his ears and
> eyes that the petty person leads his heart."
>
> 知己者報人以善: It is with good that the one who knows herself rewards others.
>
> 小人報天以怨: It is with resentment that the petty person rewards Heaven.

Based on point 1.5, a literal translation of 時間給勤奮者以榮譽，給懶漢以恥辱 might be:

```
時間  給       勤奮者       以   榮譽  ，     給       懶漢     以    恥辱
Time provides the diligent with honour, and provides the lazy with disgrace.

```

Additionally, according to point 1.6, when the coverb (here 以) is placed after the main verb (here 給), it puts more emphasis on the thing after the coverb (here 榮譽 ‘honour’ and 恥辱 ‘disgrace’). Therefore, an even more literal translation (though a very awkward one) could be:

`It is with honour that time provides the diligent, and it is with disgrace that time provides the lazy.`

That should explain the use of 以, which in this case basically means ‘with’. Of course, a natural-sounding translation cannot be as literal as the ones above.

**Note:** 以 can be translated as ‘with’ **in this particular context**. It doesn't mean that ‘with’ is always a correct translation if 以. In particular, 以 does **not** mean ‘together with’, and is therefore different from words such as 和，与，跟， 一起 and so on. As we can see in the above quote, 以 may in other context be expressed with ‘take’, ‘use’, ‘by means of’ and ‘through’.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I'm curious: If 以 here is 'with', would you be happy to replace it with '和，与，跟， 一起‘ or some other word for with?  
> **username_3**: @username_4 I don't think that could work. The characters you listed mean ‘together with’, and the phrase “Time provides the diligent *together with* honour” doesn't make sense. Here we have a different meaning of *with*.  
> **username_4**: If you are 'with' you are 'together'. There is no 'with' without 'being together'.  
> **username_3**: @username_4 I don't think we disagree, maybe we simply want to say the same thing in a different way. I clarified my answer a bit.  
> **username_5**: Think of it as an extension of the narrower sense of 以 as 用/"using": "time gives you something using honor" > "time gives you honor"  
> **username_6**: If 以 acts as "by means of" why then there is "通过以" (by means of by means of :) in this sentence? 他给前同事、新任中国总理温家宝写了一封信，告诉他通过以房养老计划，中国退休人员“可以衣食无忧”。  
> **username_3**: @username_6 I think you're comparing apples and oranges here. The OP's quote is written in Literary Chinese (文言文), which generally follows Classical Chinese grammar. Your quote is clearly modern written Chinese (書面語), which generally follows modern Mandarin grammar.  
> **username_6**: 米好, you are right. My bad. Sorry. So in my example 通过 now means what  以 used to mean, and 以 today is more of a "marker" and not a verb/adverb at all.  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2020-04-29. Score: 1

“给 A 以 B” is an extremely formal way of “把 B 给 A”. So formal that other answers have to refer to ancient books to explain it.

In short, here 以 is almost the same as 把. However, while 把 is usually in front of the verb, 以 is usually after the verb.


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2016-12-22. Score: 0

Yes, 以 has many meanings <http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/461/>

[米好 '-'](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/users/3966/%E7%B1%B3%E5%A5%BD) 's answer is a good one. "**以**" in : “时间给勤奋者**以**荣誉，给懒汉**以**耻辱.” do mean "with".

As in : "*provides the diligent **with** honour*"

But "with" also has many meanings <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/with>. We have to look at the context to decide which meaning of "with" we are talking about.

In this case, we can see 'Time' is the subject, and ' honor' is an object that time gives and 'diligent people' is an indirect object (recipient of honor).

"Time gives honor to diligent people" = "Time provides the diligent with honor. "

以(with) before the noun 'honor' is a preposition that indicates 'honor' is the direct object and 'diligent people' is indirect object

If we omit 以(with) in the sentence and write: "时间给勤奋者荣誉" (Time provides honor to the diligent) the meaning of the sentence would almost be the same. Using preposition 'with' before 'honor' is for emphasizing it.

\*personaly, I prefer writing "时间给勤奋者荣誉" which is a simpler structure, and less chance of confusion after transliterated to English "Time provides honor to the diligent"


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-12-23. Score: 0

I would respectfully disagree with the 2 answers. If 以 cannot be replaced with another word for 'with', why assume 以 means with? Just because English uses 'provide with'? That is a rash assumption. Would you also change 给 for 提供 here?

时间给勤奋者以荣誉，给懒汉以耻辱

Time, for the hardworking, leads to honour, for the lazybones, leads to disgrace.

Look here for various meanings of 以:

<http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E4%BB%A5>

The second one down says:

表示率領、帶領。如《左傳．僖公四年》：「四年春，齊侯以諸侯之師侵蔡。」《國語．周語》：「（富辰）乃以其屬死之。」韋昭注：「帥其徒屬，以死狄師。」

The linguists or professors at HK Uni, presumably using their great knowledge of Chinese wrote this:

‘以’表示率領、帶領。

They equate 以 with 率领 or 带领, both of which mean lead. (They may also, of course, err.)

四年春，齊侯以諸侯之師侵蔡。

If I simplify this sentence I get: 齊侯以諸侯之師 Qihou lead (率领） the Zhuhou army.

In the year 4 in springtime, Qihou lead the Zhuhou army and invaded Cai.

What makes no sense?

时间给勤奋者以荣誉 Time leads the hardworking to honour.

This is, of course, figurative language, as 'time' cannot physically 'lead', as did 齊侯 when he invaded (侵) 蔡. We could change 'lead' for 'results in': Time results in （leads to) honour for the hardworking. The meaning is unchanged: Time passes, honour accrues.

Makes good sense to me.

> **Comments:**
> **username_8**: 齊侯 is the subject. 侵(invaded) is the main verb, and 蔡 is the object.; 以(use/implement) is the sub-verb in the relative phrase '以諸侯之師'. When  using 以 as " to lead" it means the object is being "used / implemented" if you apply this meaning to the quote "时间给勤奋者以荣誉" you are saying "Time use honor as a mean to give to hard workers" -Time is using 'honor'  as a tool or instrument. And not mention what is given-- it makes no sense  

---

