Question 1

How is the character 于 structured, and how does its shape relate to its meaning?

Accepted Answer

于 is made of two horizontal strokes (like the radical 二) with a vertical hook below. The two horizontals represent a base or marker, and the hook points downward or left, suggesting movement to a place. This shape visually supports its meaning as a preposition for location or direction, such as 'in', 'at', or 'to'.

Question 2

What is a good memory trick to remember the character 于?

Accepted Answer

Imagine a signpost: the top horizontal line is the sign, the second horizontal is the ground, and the vertical hook is the post pointing 'to' a destination. This helps you remember 于 means 'to' or 'at' because it looks like a directional marker.

Question 3

What are the key writing tips for 于, especially stroke order and common mistakes?

Accepted Answer

Stroke order is: horizontal (top), horizontal (bottom), then vertical hook. The top horizontal should be slightly shorter than the bottom one, and the vertical hook must start from the middle of the bottom stroke and curl left at the end. A common mistake is writing the vertical stroke without a hook or making it too long.

Question 4

How can I tell 于 apart from similar characters like 二 and 亍?

Accepted Answer

二 is just two horizontal strokes with no vertical line, so it means 'two', while 于 has a vertical hook below. 亍 looks similar but its top horizontal stroke crosses through the vertical line, whereas in 于 the vertical hook only touches the second horizontal. Also, 亍 is a rare character meaning 'to step', while 于 is common as a preposition.

Question 5

When and how is 于 used in modern Chinese, and are there any cultural notes?

Accepted Answer

于 is a formal preposition meaning 'in', 'at', or 'to', and appears in common words like 由于 (because of) and 关于 (concerning). It is more common in writing than in everyday speech, where 在 is usually used instead. Additionally, 于 is a frequent surname in Chinese culture.

Question 6

What common words use 于?

Accepted Answer

Common words containing 于 include: 由于 (yóu yú) — because of / due to; 关于 (guān yú) — About; concerning; 等于 (děng yú) — To equal; to be equivalent to.

Character	于
Pinyin	yú (yu)
Meaning	In, at, or to.
Strokes	3
Radical	二
HSK Level	2
Difficulty	1.7/5

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
于 (current)	yú	3	二
二	èr	2	二
亍	chù	3	二
亏	kuī	3	二

How to Write 于 (yú) — Meaning “In, at, or to.”

Practice Writing 于 (yú)

How to Write 于

What Does yú (于) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 于

Common Words with 于

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 于 (yú)

Frequently Asked Questions about 于

More HSK Level 2 Characters

Characters with Radical 二

Other 3-Stroke Characters