Comparison of "以便" and "便于"

In Chinese, "以便" (yǐbiàn) and "便于" (biànyú) both express the idea of convenience or ease, but they are used in slightly different contexts and have nuanced differences.

以便 (yǐbiàn)

"以便" is a conjunction that indicates purpose or intent. It is often used to express the intended outcome or purpose of an action.

• Example: Please finish the report early so that we can review it. - 请早点完成报告，以便我们审阅。(Qǐng zǎo diǎn wánchéng bàogào, yǐbiàn wǒmen shěnyuè.)
• Example: He studies hard in order to pass the exam. - 他努力学习以便通过考试。(Tā nǔlì xuéxí yǐbiàn tōngguò kǎoshì.)

便于 (biànyú)

"便于" is an adjective that describes something as being convenient or easy for a particular purpose or action.

• Example: This tool is convenient for cutting vegetables. - 这个工具便于切菜。(Zhège gōngjù biànyú qiè cài.)
• Example: The new software is user-friendly. - 新软件很便于使用。(Xīn ruǎnjiàn hěn biànyú shǐyòng.)

Main Differences

• Function: "以便" is a conjunction indicating purpose, while "便于" is an adjective describing convenience or ease.
• Usage: "以便" is used to express the intended outcome or purpose of an action, while "便于" describes something as being convenient or easy for a particular purpose or action.