於

Translingual

Stroke order

Alternative forms

• The Hong Kong standard form for this character is ⿸𭤨⺀, despite the fact that 於 is not related to 方 or 㫃 (see below).

Han character

於 (Kangxi radical 70, 方+4, 8 strokes, cangjie input 卜尸人卜 (YSOY), four-corner 0823₃, composition ⿰方仒 (GTJKV) or ⿸𭤨⺀ (H))

Descendants

• お
• オ
• 𛀔
• 𛀕

Derived characters

• 𰂔, 𭂔, 唹, 𡌧, 𢛨, 𢮁, 淤, 棜, 𣨝, 𤉪, 𤥽, 𮌠, 𪦟, 𨨡, 𫵦, 𩜏, 𩩦, 鯲
• 𨔆, 𣃶, 菸, 箊, 𬱍, 乻, 㫇, 㫈, 𭤹, 𬿎, 旕, 𣄒, 𩩘, 瘀, 閼(阏)

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 481, character 11
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 13628
• Dae Jaweon: page 843, character 7
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 3, page 2175, character 2
• Unihan data for U+65BC

Chinese

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 於
Western Zhou	Warring States	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Transcribed ancient scripts

From an ancient variant form of 烏. Not related to 方 or 㫃.

Note the other uses of 于 (yú), the simplified and variant traditional form of the preposition senses.

Etymology

Preposition

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ʔaj (“to go; directional particle”) (Schuessler, 2007). It has slowly merged with and replaced the older 于 (OC *ɢʷa) (ibid.).

Prefix in 於菟／於檡／於兔／於䖘

Variant of 阿 (*qaːl, prefix in kinship terms and personal names) (ibid.).

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation 1

Definitions

於

1. (indicates time or place) in; at; on

   Synonym: 在

   生於1980年／生于1980年  ―  shēng yú 1980 nián  ―  born in 1980

   峰會將於北京舉行。 [MSC, trad.]
   峰会将于北京举行。 [MSC, simp.]

   Fēnghuì jiāng yú běijīng jǔxíng.

   The summit will be held in Beijing.

2. (used before a noun to indicate the object of an action) with; on

   求助於人／求助于人  ―  qiúzhù yú rén  ―  to ask people for help

   不滿足於現狀／不满足于现状  ―  bù mǎnzú yú xiànzhuàng  ―  not satisfied with the status quo

   有益於健康／有益于健康  ―  yǒuyì yú jiànkāng  ―  good for health

   己所不欲，勿施於人。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
   己所不欲，勿施于人。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

   From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

   Jǐ suǒ bù yù, wù shī yú rén.

   Do not do unto others what you would not like others to do unto yourself.

   • 子禽問於子貢。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     子禽问于子贡。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Zǐqín wèn yú Zǐgòng.

     Zi Qin asked Zi Gong.

   • 目前總的國際形勢和國內形勢於我們有利，於侵略者不利。 [MSC, trad.]
     目前总的国际形势和国内形势于我们有利，于侵略者不利。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1950, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《给中国人民志愿军的命令》 (Order to the Chinese People's Volunteers), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

     Mùqián zǒng de guójì xíngshì hé guónèi xíngshì yú wǒmen yǒulì, yú qīnlüèzhě bùlì.

     At present, the international and domestic situation as a whole is favourable to us, not to the aggressors.

3. (used before a noun, verb or adjective to indicate the target of action) to

   獻身於革命事業／献身于革命事业  ―  xiànshēn yú gémìng shìyè  ―  to be devoted to the revolution

   致力於創新／致力于创新  ―  zhìlì yú chuàngxīn  ―  to be committed to innovation

   病情趨向於穩定。 [MSC, trad.]
   病情趋向于稳定。 [MSC, simp.]

   Bìngqíng qūxiàng yú wěndìng.

   The condition is stabilizing.

4. (indicates beginning or source) from

   源於／源于  ―  yuányú  ―  to originate from

   他畢業於復旦大學。 [MSC, trad.]
   他毕业于复旦大学。 [MSC, simp.]

   Tā bìyè yú Fùdàn Dàxué.

   He graduated from Fudan University.

   • 千里之行，始於足下。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     千里之行，始于足下。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Tao Te Ching, 4^th century BCE

     Qiānlǐ zhī xíng, shǐyú zú xià.

     a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

5. (indicates the agent of action) by

   限於條件／限于条件  ―  xiàn yú tiáojiàn  ―  limited by circumstances

   • 郤克傷於矢，流血及屨。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     郤克伤于矢，流血及屦。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE

     Xì Kè shāng yú shǐ, liúxuè jí jù.

     Xi Ke was wounded by an arrow, till the blood ran down to his shoes

   • 勞心者治人，勞力者治於人。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     劳心者治人，劳力者治于人。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     Láoxīn zhě zhì rén, láolì zhě zhì yú rén.

     Those who labour with their minds govern others; those who labour with their strength are governed by others.

6. (indicates comparison) than

   血濃於水／血浓于水  ―  xuènóngyúshuǐ  ―  blood is thicker than water

   苛政猛於虎／苛政猛于虎  ―  kēzhèngměngyúhǔ  ―  oppressive governments are more terrible than tigers

   • 蜀道之難、難於上青天。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     蜀道之难、难于上青天。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 李白, 《蜀道難》; translated by Betty Tseng

     Shǔdào zhī nán, nán yú shàng qīngtiān.

     The daunting route into the region of Shu is more daunting than climbing the sky.

7. (used after a verb or adjective) with regard to

   至於／至于  ―  zhìyú  ―  as to

   屬於／属于  ―  shǔyú  ―  to belong to

   樂於助人／乐于助人  ―  yuè yú zhùrén  ―  to be willing to help others

   敢於承擔責任／敢于承担责任  ―  gǎn yú chéngdān zérèn  ―  to dare to assume responsibility

8. a surname

Usage notes

The surname 於 is to be distinguished from another surname 于. The character 於 is never simplified if it is used for surname.

Compounds

Pronunciation 2

Definitions

於

1. Alternative form of 烏／乌 (“crow; raven”)
2. Alternative form of 嗚／呜 (wū, “alas!; oh!”)
3. Used in 於菟／於檡／於兔／於䖘 (wūtú, “tiger”).

Compounds

Japanese

Kanji

(“Jinmeiyō” kanji used for names)

1. in (defines a place, a moment, a concept in order to describe its relationship with the surroundings)

Readings

• Go-on: お (o); う (u)
• Kan-on: よ (yo); お (o)^{←を (wo, historical)}
• Kun: おいて (oite, 於いて); あう (au); より (yori)

Korean

Etymology 1

Hanja

於 (eumhun 어조사 어 (eojosa eo))

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Etymology 2

Hanja

於 (eumhun 감탄사 오 (gamtansa o))

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Vietnamese

Han character

於: Hán Việt readings: ư
於: Nôm readings: ơ, ở, ưa, ờ, ư, ớ, ô, ứ, thờ

1. Nôm form of ở (“to be; to live; to stay; to remain”).

References