免受…
to be spared (from); to be protected against
Structure
（为使／保护／让 对象） 免受 伤害／干扰／污染／损失／打扰…
What it means
To be spared or protected from something bad. 免 is ‘avoid’ and 受 ‘suffer’, so the object is always harm: 伤害, 干扰, 污染, 损失, 打扰, 惩罚.
How it is built
Usually 保护／使／让 + someone + 免受 + harm noun: 这部法律的目的是保护儿童免受伤害 (the purpose of this law is to protect children from harm).
When to use it
Formal: laws, reports, science writing. Unlike 以免 (lesson 5-11), which is followed by a whole clause (…，以免发生事故), 免受 takes a noun.
Watch out
Never with something good: ✗ 免受帮助. 受 is already inside it: ✗ 免受到伤害 ✓ 免受伤害.
Examples
为使观测免受电磁干扰，游客须交出手机。
So that the observations are not disturbed by electromagnetic interference, visitors must hand in their phones.
这部法律的目的是保护儿童免受伤害。
The purpose of this law is to protect children from harm.
大坝建成以后，下游几十万人从此免受洪水威胁。
Since the dam was built, several hundred thousand people downstream have been spared the threat of floods.
Learn this in Lesson 178 · HSK 7–9: 中国天眼 (China’s Sky Eye)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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