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位于 (wèi yú) — to be located at; to be situated at

Definition

A formal verb for the location of buildings, institutions, or places on a map. More written than 坐落 (which suits a single structure); 处于 describes a state, not geography.

verb
to be located atto be situated at
Easily confused

Examples

  • 位于。
    Tā de gōng sī wèi yú shì zhōng xīn.
    His company is located in the city center.
  • 位于。
    Zhè suǒ xué xiào wèi yú hǎi biān.
    This school is located by the seaside.
  • 位于。
    Tú shū guǎn wèi yú gōng yuán fù jìn.
    The library is located near the park.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

位wèiposition
于yúat

位 (position) + 于 (at) gives being situated at a place.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
立
立lì位wèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

位 combines 人 (man), related to people, with 立, which gives the sound. It was often simply written as 立.

Open 位 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

Open 于 →
Appears in
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