于 (yú) — (preposition) at, in, on (used in formal/literary contexts for time or place); (preposition) with regard to, toward, for (indicating a relationship or target); (preposition) than (used after adjectives in comparisons)
Definition
于 is a formal/literary preposition covering 'at/in' (place or time), 'for/toward' (relationship), and 'than' (comparisons). For everyday speech prefer 在 for location/time, 关于 or 对于 for 'about/regarding'.
preposition
atinon (used in formal/literary contexts for time or place)with regard totowardfor (indicating a relationship or target)than (used after adjectives in comparisons)
Examples
- 于。Huì yì jiāng yú xià zhōu jǔ xíng.The meeting will be held next week.
- 。Tā de néng lì gāo yú cháng rén.His ability is higher than ordinary people.
- 于。Zhè yú wǒ men yǒu hěn dà hǎo chù.This has great benefits for us.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo 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.
Appears in
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