以免
yǐmiǎn · HSK 7
in order to avoid
🚫 以 (so as to) + 免 (avoid/exempt) = so as to avoid; the 免 in 免费 free is the avoid here
以 marks purpose (in order to) and 免 means to avoid or be exempt from. Together 以免 introduces the bad outcome you act to prevent: do X 以免 Y means do X so that Y does not happen.
以 — phonetic 㠯 (plow/tool) + 人 (person)
Originally a pictograph of a hand-held plow or tool (㠯), later combined with 人 (person) to suggest 'using' something. The core meaning 'to use' extended metaphorically to 'by means of', 'with', and 'because of'. In modern Chinese it functions mainly as a grammatical particle.
免 — pictograph of a person 人 with a hat or helmet
免 originally depicted a person wearing a hat or helmet, suggesting removal or taking off. The meaning shifted to 'avoid, exempt, escape from' — as in escaping a duty or being spared. It is graphically related to 兔 (rabbit), but the two characters have distinct origins.