Meaning
- To cope or survive with limited resources.
- To succeed in doing something with minimal effort.
- To move past and obstacle or person.
Today's Sentences
01
I can get by on what I earn.
Situation
How are you managing with just a part-time job?
你是如何仅靠兼职工作来维持的？
It’s tough, but I can get by on what I earn.
很艰难，但我可以靠我赚的钱勉强过活。
Doesn’t it stress you out?
这不是让你感到压力吗？
Sure it does but I’ve learned how to budget.
当然，但是我已经学会了如何“预算”。
02
I can get by with pasta and eggs.
Situation
Are you good at cooking?
你擅长烹饪吗？
Not really, but I can get by with pasta and eggs.
其实不太会，但我可以靠意大利面和鸡蛋勉强过活。
At least you won’t go hungry.
至少你不会挨饿。
True, you don’t need to be a chef to get by.
的确，你不需要是厨师也能应付生活。
Writer's Note
Let’s break down the phrasal verb "get by" into its types.
让我们来分析一下短语动词“get by”的类型。
- Intransitive - These verbs do not need an object to make sense and can stand alone in a sentence.
Structure 1: "Subject + get by (+ on/with + noun)"
Example 1: It’s hard to get by on such a small salary.
Structure 2: "Subject + get by (+ in/with + noun)"
Example 2: He can’t cook fancy meals, but he gets by with pasta and eggs.
Structure 3: "Subject + get by (+ object/obstacle)"
Example 3: There wasn’t enough space to get by the parked car. - Inseparable - Because "by" is a preposition here, the object (if any) must come after the whole phrasal verb.
Structure: "Subject + get by (+ prepositional phrase)"
Example 1: During college, I got by on instant noodles.
Example 2: I don’t speak French well, but I can get by in Paris.
Example 3: I turned sideways to get by in the crowded hallway.
不及物动词 - 这些动词不需要宾语就能表达完整的意思，可以单独在句子中使用。
结构 1: “主语 + get by (+ on/with + 名词)”
例子 1: 很难靠这么低的工资维持生活。
结构 2: “主语 + get by (+ in/with + 名词)”
例子 2: 他不会做复杂的菜肴，但能靠意大利面和鸡蛋凑合过去。
结构 3: “主语 + get by (+ 物体/障碍)”
例子 3: 没有足够的空间通过停着的汽车。
结构 1: “主语 + get by (+ on/with + 名词)”
例子 1: 很难靠这么低的工资维持生活。
结构 2: “主语 + get by (+ in/with + 名词)”
例子 2: 他不会做复杂的菜肴，但能靠意大利面和鸡蛋凑合过去。
结构 3: “主语 + get by (+ 物体/障碍)”
例子 3: 没有足够的空间通过停着的汽车。
不可分离 - 由于“by”在此处是一个介词，宾语（如果有的话）必须放在整个短语动词之后。
结构: “主语 + get by (+ 介词短语)”
例子 1: 在大学期间，我靠方便面度日。
例子 2: 我法语说得不好，但我能在巴黎应付过去。
例子 3: 我侧身以便在拥挤的走廊中通过。
结构: “主语 + get by (+ 介词短语)”
例子 1: 在大学期间，我靠方便面度日。
例子 2: 我法语说得不好，但我能在巴黎应付过去。
例子 3: 我侧身以便在拥挤的走廊中通过。
Related words: Cope, endure, manage, make do, muddle through, pass, scrape by, subsist, survive.
相关词汇：Cope、endure、manage、make do、muddle through、pass、scrape by、subsist、survive。
