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居于 (jū yú) — to occupy (a certain position or rank)

Definition

Written/formal 'to occupy (a position)'. Compared with 处于, it foregrounds rank or status (位列) rather than a state or condition. Less physical than 占据 or 占领, which imply seizing territory or space.

verb
to occupy (a certain position or rank)

Examples

  • 居于。
    Tā zài gōng sī jū yú lǐng dǎo dì wèi.
    He occupies a leadership position in the company.
  • 居于。
    Zhè ge chǎn pǐn zài shì chǎng shàng jū yú qián liè.
    This product ranks among the top in the market.
  • 居于。
    Tā de chéng jì zài bān shàng jū yú dì yī.
    Her grades rank first in the class.

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.

居jūoccupy
于yúin/at

居 means to occupy, and 于 points to the place or rank occupied.

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
尸尸shī
Sound part声符shēngfú
古
古gǔ居jū
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

居 is built from 尸 as the meaning part and 古 (gǔ) as the sound part.

Open 居 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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