以 X 比 Y 战胜／击败…
to beat someone by a score of X to Y
Structure
胜方 以 分数 比 分数 战胜／击败 负方 ； 负方 以 分数 比 分数 负于／输给 胜方
What it means
Reports a result with the score: to beat someone by X to Y. 以 (“by, with”) puts the score in front of the verb.
How it is built
Winner + 以 + score 比 score + 战胜／击败 + loser: 阿尔法围棋以4比1战胜了李世石 (AlphaGo beat Lee Sedol 4–1). Or loser + 以1比2 + 负于／输给 + winner. Read 4比1 as sì bǐ yī.
When to use it
The usual order in news and sports reports. With 战胜, 击败 or 胜 the winner's score comes first; with 负于 or 输给 the loser's. For a single game's margin: 以半目之差获胜. In speech: 四比一赢了.
Watch out
Score before the verb, not the English order: ✗战胜了李世石以4比1 ✓以4比1战胜了李世石. Don't swap 以 for 用: ✗用4比1战胜.
Examples
阿尔法围棋以4比1战胜了李世石。
AlphaGo beat Lee Sedol 4–1.
中国女排在决赛中以3比0击败对手，夺得了冠军。
The Chinese women’s volleyball team beat their opponents 3–0 in the final and took the title.
在家门口，这支球队却以1比2负于对手。
On their own ground, the team nevertheless lost 1–2 to their opponents.
Learn this in Lesson 150 · HSK 7–9: 人机大战：围棋 (Go: man against machine)
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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