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在于 (zài yú) — to lie in; to consist in; to depend on; to rest with

Definition

在于 means 'the key/cause lies in' — used to point out the essential factor behind a situation, more formal than 取决于 ('depends on') which stresses contingency rather than essence.

verb
to lie into consist into depend onto rest with

Examples

  • 在于。
    Tā de wèn tí zài yú jīng yàn bú gòu.
    His problem lies in insufficient experience.
  • 在于。
    Jiào yù de yì yì zài yú péi yǎng sī kǎo néng lì.
    The meaning of education lies in cultivating thinking ability.
  • 在于。
    Zhè cì bǐ sài de jié guǒ zài yú duì yuán zhī jiān de pèi hé.
    The outcome of this match depends on the teamwork among the players.

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.

在zàibe at
于yúin

在于 means “lie in”, combining 在 “be at” with 于 “in”.

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.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

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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.

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Grammar

Appears in
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