以至于 (yǐzhìyú)

以至于 is a conjunction that introduces a result or consequence that has reached a notable degree, equivalent to "so ... that" or "to the extent that," often indicating an unexpected or extreme outcome.

Meanings

[conjunction] to the extent that; so ... that; resulting in (introduces a consequence that reached a notable or extreme degree)

Example Sentences

他太专注于工作，以至于忘记了自己的生日。 Tā tài zhuānzhù yú gōngzuò, yǐzhìyú wàngjìle zìjǐ de shēngrì. He was so focused on work that he forgot his own birthday.

暴风雪非常严重，以至于整个城市的交通陷入了瘫痪。 Bàofēngxuě fēicháng yánzhòng, yǐzhìyú zhěnggè chéngshì de jiāotōng xiànrùle tānhuàn. The snowstorm was so severe that the entire city's traffic came to a standstill.

这个问题非常复杂，以至于专家们讨论了好几个小时也没有找到解决方案。 Zhège wèntí fēicháng fùzá, yǐzhìyú zhuānjiāmen tǎolùnle hǎojǐ gè xiǎoshí yě méiyǒu zhǎodào jiějuéfāng'àn. The problem was so complex that the experts discussed it for hours without finding a solution.

她长期睡眠不足，以至于身体健康受到了严重影响。 Tā chángqī shuìmián bùzú, yǐzhìyú shēntǐ jiànkāng shòudàole yánzhòng yǐngxiǎng. She had long-term sleep deprivation, to the extent that her health was seriously affected.

那次事故造成的心理创伤太深，以至于他多年来都无法正常生活。 Nà cì shìgù zàochéng de xīnlǐ chuāngshāng tài shēn, yǐzhìyú tā duō nián lái dōu wúfǎ zhèngcháng shēnghuó. The psychological trauma from that accident was so deep that he was unable to live normally for many years.

两国之间的贸易摩擦不断升级，以至于影响了整个地区的经济稳定。 Liǎng guó zhījiān de màoyì mócā bùduàn shēngjí, yǐzhìyú yǐngxiǎngle zhěnggè dìqū de jīngjì wěndìng. Trade friction between the two countries kept escalating, to the extent that it affected the economic stability of the entire region.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
...以至于...	so ... that ...; to the extent that
严重到以至于	serious to the extent that
以至于无法...	to the extent of being unable to ...
以至于影响	to the extent of affecting ...

Usage Notes

以至于 is used to describe a situation where a cause produces a result of notable degree or intensity. It typically implies that the outcome is somewhat unexpected or notable. It can describe both negative and positive outcomes, though negative outcomes are more common.

以至于 is often confused with its shorter form 以至 (yǐzhì) and with 以致 (yǐzhì). 以至于 and 以至 are interchangeable in most contexts. 以致 also introduces a result, but more specifically suggests a negative or undesirable consequence caused by the preceding action or situation. See the 以致 entry for details.

Memory Hook

以 (by means of/to) + 至 (reach/arrive) + 于 (at/to) — "reaching the point of" — the situation went so far that it "arrived at" this extreme result.