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处于 (chǔ yú) — to be in (a state, position, or condition)

Definition

处于 stresses an ongoing state or condition ('be in a stage of…'). Use 位于 for physical location of a place, and 居于 for a position or rank held.

verb
to be in (a state, position, or condition)

Examples

  • 处于。
    Zhè ge guó jiā chǔ yú hé píng fā zhǎn jiē duàn.
    This country is in a stage of peaceful development.
  • 。
    Tā chǔ yú shī yè zhuàng tài yǐ jīng bàn nián le.
    He has been in an unemployed state for half a year.
  • 处于。
    Gōng sī mù qián chǔ yú kùn nan shí qī.
    The company is currently in a difficult period.

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.

处chùbe in
于yúin/at

处 = be in, 于 = in or at; together they mean to be in a state.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 處; 处 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
夂夂zhǐ
几几jǐtable
Sound part声符shēngfú
虍
虍hū處chǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 處 pairs 虍, giving the sound, with 夂 and 几, a table, as meaning parts. The simplified 处 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 处 →

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 →
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