于
surname Yu; to go; to take; sentence-final interrogative particle; (of time or place) in; at; on; (indicating any indirect relation) to; toward; vis-à-vis; with regard to; for; (indicating a source) from; out of; (used in comparison) than; (used in the passive voice) by
Closest English meanings
at·in·from·on·than
The Calligrapher — Yáng Níngshì 杨凝式
Five Dynasties master bridging Tang and Song running script.
Five Dynasties calligrapher (873–954), master of running script/cursive script — known for 《韭花帖》. Five Dynasties period
Cultural Story
於, 于, is the preposition that placed things in classical prose, at, in, from, than. The 論語, 於予與何誅, what can be said of him. The 史記 opens battles 於某年. It is the quiet locator, the word that sets a deed in its time and place before the main verb arrives. The simplified 于 keeps the old bone; the meaning is the same seam of grammar.
Common words & phrases
- 于是 thereupon · hence · so · therefore
- 对于 to · regarding · toward · concerning
- 由于 because · due to · owing to · for
- 在于 lie in · consist in · depend on · rest with
- 终于 finally · at last · in the end · eventually
- 关于 about · regarding · concerning · on
Read the story behind the character
于是 is the and so of written narrative; 对于 the regarding of the memo. 由于 is the excuse; 在于 the crux, 问题在于. 终于 is the relief, 终于到了. 关于 is the re of the email. The character is pure function, the grammatical shelf everything else rests on. Speech uses 在 and 因, so 于 sounds formal, the register of reasons, conclusions, and subject lines.
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