至于 (zhì yú) — (preposition) as for, as to, regarding (introduces a new topic); (verb) to go so far as to, to reach the point of (often used in negation: 不至于)

Definition

至于 shifts to a new topic ('as for…'), often leaving the first topic unresolved. For 'about/concerning' (a topic already under discussion), use 关于 or 对于 instead. As a verb, 不至于 means 'it's not that serious / wouldn't go that far'.

preposition
as foras toregarding (introduces a new topic)
verb
to go so far as toto reach the point of (often used in negation: 不至于)

Examples

  • 至于，。
    zhì yú Míng tiān de ān pái, wǒ men kāi huì zài tǎo lùn.
    As for tomorrow's arrangements, we'll discuss them at the meeting.
  • ，。
    Tā gōng zuò hěn nǔ lì, bú zhì yú bèi lǎo bǎn pī píng.
    He works very hard; it's not to the point where the boss would criticize him.
  • 至于，。
    zhì yú Jié guǒ rú hé, wǒ men zhī néng nài xīn děng dài.
    As for what the outcome will be, we can only wait patiently.

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.

至zhìreach
于yúto

至 means reach, and 于 adds a relational to sense, together giving as for.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

至 is drawn as an arrow stuck into the ground.

Open 至 →

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 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 55000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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