at

Original meaning: 

wind instrument

Pictograph of a musical wind instrument with a reed, which is now written as . The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Evolution

于 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
于 Bronze script Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze script

Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
于 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
于 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
于 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

surname Yu

 

to go; to take; sentence-final interrogative particle; variant of |[yú]

() 

in, at, on; interjection alas!; in; at; to; from; by; than; out of

Most common words with 于
Freq.
Word
Meaning

in

关于

pertaining to

对于

regarding

由于

due to

终于

at last

Component uses

Sound component in 13 characters (2 verified)

Iconic component in 1 character (1 verified)