HSK 5
V 于 N
V yú N
V in/to/from N
Structure
Verb + 于 + Time / Location / Object
How it works
The particle '于' is a formal preposition used in written Chinese to indicate time, location, or direction. It functions similarly to '在' (at/in), '从' (from), or '向' (to) depending on the context of the verb it follows.
Examples
这种鸟类多见于南方地区。
Zhè zhǒng niǎolèi duō jiàn yú nánfāng dìqū.
This species of bird is mostly seen in southern regions.
该计划出生于他的一个灵感。
Gāi jìhuà chūshēng yú tā de yīgè línggǎn.
This plan originated from an inspiration of his.
会议将于明天上午八点开始。
Huìyì jiāng yú míngtiān shàngwǔ bā diǎn kāishǐ.
The meeting will begin at 8:00 AM tomorrow.
Common mistakes
Mixing casual and formal registers; '于' is rarely used in daily spoken conversation and should be reserved for formal writing or speeches.
Tip
If you see '于' after an adjective, it usually functions as 'than' (比), such as '高于' (higher than) or '多于' (more than).
More HSK 5 grammar
See V 于 N in real Chinese
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