used to show the person or thing that does something

The motorcycle was driven by a tiny bald man. 那辆摩托车由一个秃顶的小个子男人驾驶。

We were amazed by what she told us. 我们对她所说的事感到很惊讶。

I'm reading some short stories (written) by Chekhov. 我在读契诃夫写的一些短篇小说。

The book was translated by a well-known author. 这本书是由一位著名作家翻译的。

I felt frightened by the anger in his voice. 我被他声音中的怒气吓坏了。

used to show how something is done

They travelled across Europe by train/car. 他们乘火车／开汽车在欧洲旅行。

She did the decorating (all) by herself (= alone, without help from anyone). 所有装饰都是她一人做的。

We went in by (= through) the front door. 我们是从前门进去的。

Do you want to be paid in cash or by cheque? 你想拿现金还是支票？

He learned English by listening to the radio. 他通过听收音机来学习英语。

Suddenly, she grabbed him by the arm (= took hold of this part of his body). 突然，她抓住了他的手臂。

I refuse to live by (= following) their rules. 我拒绝遵守他们的规矩。

near or at the side of

A small child stood sullenly by her side. 一个小孩闷闷不乐地站在她身边。

He wanted to keep her close by him always. 他想让她一直呆在自己身边。

The policewoman walked by (= past) them without saying a word. 那个女警察没说一句话就从他们身边走过去了。

not later than; at or before

She had promised to be back by five o'clock. 她答应过5点前回来。

The application must be in by the 31st to be accepted. 申请必须在31号之前到达才会被接受。

By the time I got to the station the train had already gone. 等我到达火车站时，火车已经开走了。

used to show measurements or amounts

Our office floor space measured twelve metres by ten (= was twelve metres in one direction and ten in the other). 我们办公室的面积为12乘10米。

Their wages were increased by 15 percent. 他们的工资上涨了15%。

Freelance workers are paid by the hour (= for every hour they work). 自由职业者按小时领取报酬。

These phones have sold by the thousand (= several thousand have been sold). 这些电话已经售出几千台。

used to say that something increases or changes with every minute, hour, day, etc. that passes

The death toll from the hurricane was climbing minute by minute. 随着每分钟的过去，飓风造成的死亡人数一直在增加。

The credibility of the campaign has deterioriated by the minute.

The temperature here changes hour by hour.

The drama unfolded minute by minute as rescuers attempted to get to the trapped hikers.

The department is in chaos, and things are changing day by day.

describing or showing what happens every minute, hour, etc.

Police presented a minute-by-minute timeline of the incident.

Sites like these offer minute-by-minute updates on the price of commodities.

They'd been broadcasting hour-by-hour coverage of the unfolding situation.

It gives you a week-by-week guide on how your baby is developing.

during

We travelled by night and rested by day. 我们昼伏夜行。

used when describing someone's character, job, etc.

She is, by nature, a sunny, positive kind of person. 她本性是那种乐观开朗、积极向上的人。

He's a plumber by trade. 他的职业是水暖工。

She was, by profession, a lawyer. 她的职业是律师。

He is cautious and risk-averse by nature.

A dentist by profession, she was active in local politics in the 1980s.

A carpenter by trade, he had always been interested in conservation.

If something is all right/fine by someone, they agree that it can happen.

"I'd rather go later." "That's fine by me." “我想晚点去。”“我没意见。”

If it's all right by you, I'd like to leave now. 如果你不反对的话，我想现在走。

If you want to go in June rather than May, that's fine by me.

I'll ask Dan - if it's fine by him, we'll take the train there rather than drive.

"It would be better for me to go to the earlier performance." "Yeah, that's all right by me."

at the side of or (in distance or time) past

The policewoman walked by without saying a word. 那个女警察没说一句话就走过去了。

Why don't you call in for a cup of coffee next time you're passing by? 下次你路过的时候干吗不进来喝杯咖啡呢？

The years flew by. 岁月飞逝。

by and byidiom old-fashioned 过了一会儿，不久