HSK 6 grammar · new HSK syllabus
于: at, in, than, to (formal)
于 is a formal preposition: 位于北京 located in Beijing; 高于平均水平 above average; 有利于 good for.
Structure
- 位于 / 生于 / 来自于 + place / time
- Adjective + 于 + comparison
- 有利于 / 有助于 / 对…有益
How it works
In formal writing, 于 often replaces 在 (at, in): 位于城市中心, 生于1990年.
After an adjective it means “than”: 高于, 低于, 大于.
It forms many set phrases: 有利于 beneficial to, 有助于 helpful for, 属于 belong to, 由于 because of.
Examples
-
这所大学位于城市中心。
The university is located in the city centre.
-
他生于1990年，是上海人。
He was born in 1990 and is from Shanghai.
-
今年的收入高于去年。
This year’s income is higher than last year’s.
-
多运动有利于身体健康。
Exercising more is good for your health.
-
这本书属于图书馆，不能带走。
This book belongs to the library and can’t be taken out.
Words in these examples (30)
| 这 | zhè | this | HSK 1 |
| 所 | suǒ | classifier for houses, small buildings, institutions etc; actually; place | HSK 5 |
| 大学 | dàxué | university | HSK 1 |
| 位于 | wèiyú | to be located at; to be situated at; to lie | HSK 5 |
| 城市 | chéngshì | city | HSK 3 |
| 中心 | zhōngxīn | center; heart; core | HSK 5 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 生 | shēng | to give birth; to be born; to grow | HSK 4 |
| 于 | yú | to go; to take; sentence-final interrogative particle | HSK 6 |
| 年 | nián | year | HSK 1 |
| 是 | shì | to be (am, is, are); yes | HSK 1 |
| 人 | rén | person; people | HSK 1 |
| 今年 | jīnnián | this year | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 收入 | shōurù | income | HSK 4 |
| 高于 | gāoyú | higher than | HSK 4 |
| 去年 | qùnián | last year | HSK 1 |
| 多 | duō | many; much; (in questions) how | HSK 1 |
| 运动 | yùndòng | sport; to exercise | HSK 2 |
| 有利 | yǒulì | advantageous; favorable | HSK 5 |
| 身体 | shēntǐ | body; health | HSK 2 |
| 健康 | jiànkāng | healthy; health | HSK 3 |
| 本 | běn | (measure word for books) | HSK 1 |
| 书 | shū | book | HSK 1 |
| 属于 | shǔyú | to belong to; to fall under (a category) | HSK 5 |
| 图书馆 | túshūguǎn | library | HSK 3 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 能 | néng | can; to be able to | HSK 1 |
| 带 | dài | to bring; to take along | HSK 3 |
| 走 | zǒu | to walk; to leave | HSK 2 |
Common mistakes
-
✗位于在北京
✓位于北京
于 already means “in”; don’t add 在.
-
✗高过于去年
✓高于去年
Adjective + 于 = more than.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我们公司位 市中心。
2. 读书有助 提高写作能力。
3. 今天的气温低 零度。