5 · Written Chinese
The written prepositions yú and yǐ, and the link ér
classical function words in modern prose
Yú marks place, time, comparison and target in writing; yǐ means with, by or so that; ér links two parts and often contrasts them.
于 is a written preposition that usually hangs on the word before it. After a verb it gives a place or a time: 位于, located in; 生于, born in; 成立于, founded in. After an adjective it compares: 高于, higher than; 低于, 多于, 少于. And after some verbs it marks a target or an area: 有利于, good for; 属于, belong to; 适用于, apply to. Speech says the same with 在, 比 and 对.
以 means “with, by means of, as”: 以优异的成绩毕业, to graduate with excellent results. It also builds links of purpose: 以便, so that; 以免, so as not to; and the list word 以及, as well as. With place words it sets limits: 以上, 以下, 以内.
而 joins two parts of a sentence, and context decides the relation. Between contrasting statements it means “whereas, but”: 他喜欢安静，而她喜欢热闹. Between two adjectives it means “and”: 美丽而安静. It also sits inside two everyday words: 而且, and moreover, and 而是 in 不是…而是…, not … but ….
The comparison with 于 rearranges the 比 sentence: A 比 B 高 becomes A 高于 B. The rule about 很 carries over: it cannot stand in front of 高于, any more than in a 比 sentence. To say “much higher”, writing uses 远高于.
The form
| located in (written) | 位于市中心 |
| higher than (written) | 高于去年 |
| so that | …，以便… |
| so as not to | …，以免… |
| not … but … | 不是…，而是… |
| whereas | …，而… |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
Yú after a verb gives the place or time in writing.
这家酒店位于市中心。This hotel is located in the city centre.
An adjective plus yú compares: A gāoyú B means A is higher than B.
今年的气温普遍高于往年。Temperatures this year are generally higher than in previous years.
Yǐbiàn and yǐmiǎn add a purpose: so that, so as not to.
请留下电话，以便我们联系您。Please leave your phone number so that we can contact you.
Ér joins two parts; between contrasting statements it means “whereas”.
哥哥喜欢运动，而弟弟喜欢看书。The elder brother likes sport, whereas the younger one likes reading.
Bú shì … érshì …: not this, but that.
问题不是钱，而是时间。The problem is not money but time.
A closer look
Each written word has a spoken partner
Most of these words have an everyday equivalent, and reading becomes much easier once the pairs are familiar: 在 becomes 于 after a verb; 比…高 becomes 高于; 用 becomes 以; 但是 or 可是 between two contrasting clauses becomes 而.
The written words rarely stand alone. They lean on a neighbour and form a two-character unit — 位于, 高于, 以便, 而是 — because written Chinese likes the rhythm of two syllables. That is why dictionaries list many of them as words of their own.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the word is 于是
于 is not a preposition here: the word means “and so, thereupon”, opens a clause and is common in speech too.
天黑了，于是我们回了家。It got dark, so we went home.
It is the old “at” plus “this”: “at this point” — so it starts the next step of a story instead of hanging on a verb.
How to spot it
- 于
- 位于
- 高于
- 以便
- 以免
- 而
- 而是
Example sentences
这所大学成立于一百多年前。This university was founded more than a hundred years ago.
多吃蔬菜有利于健康。Eating plenty of vegetables is good for your health.
这本书属于图书馆，不能带回家。This book belongs to the library and cannot be taken home.
出门前请关好窗户，以免下雨时进水。Please shut the windows before you go out, so that the rain does not get in.
他以优异的成绩考上了大学。He got into university with outstanding results.
成功不是靠运气，而是靠努力。Success depends not on luck but on hard work.
8 more example sentences
这种药适用于十二岁以上的儿童。This medicine is suitable for children over twelve.
他出生于南方的一个小镇。He was born in a small town in the south.
参加人数不得少于十人。There must be no fewer than ten participants.
她一直致力于保护野生动物。She has always devoted herself to protecting wild animals.
请提前十分钟到考场，以免耽误考试。Please arrive at the exam room ten minutes early, so as not to miss the start.
这里夏天凉快，而冬天却非常冷。Here the summers are cool, whereas the winters are very cold.
这条河美丽而安静。This river is beautiful and quiet.
会议讨论了价格、质量以及交货时间。The meeting discussed price, quality and delivery dates.
Worth knowing (1)
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Yǐshàng, yǐxià, yǐnèi
With a place word, 以 sets a limit: 以上, above; 以下, below; 以内, within. Whether the limit itself is included is often left to convention, which is why careful documents add 含, including, where it matters.
请把字数控制在五百字以内。Please keep it within five hundred characters.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
高于 already compares, just like 比…高, and as in a 比 sentence 很 cannot stand there. For “much higher”, written Chinese says 远高于.
Yú hangs after a word, yǐ comes before the means, ér stands between two halves.
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.