(chǔ yú) - to be in (a state or position), to find oneself in in Mandarin
chǔyúTraditional: 處於
Translation
to be in (a state or position), to find oneself in
Word origin
A compound of 处 (chǔ, to dwell, to be situated) and 于 (yú, at, in), literally to be situated at.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 处 (chǔ, to be situated) + 于 (yú, at, in)
Stroke order
处
于
Examples
。
The company is currently in its most difficult period.
。
His body is in very good condition.
。
The two countries are at war.
阶。
We are still at the learning stage.
河。
That city lies on the east side of the river.
处于 (chǔ yú) says that someone or something is in a particular state, stage or position. The thing that follows it is almost always a condition rather than a plain address: 处于困难时期, 处于危险之中, 处于领先地位.
It belongs to careful, written Mandarin. News reports, business writing and school essays are full of it; a friend telling you their week has been rough will say 最近很难 instead. When 处于 does describe a real location, as in 那座城市处于河的东边, the tone is still map-like and formal.
Two traps for English speakers. The first is the reading: 处 is chǔ here, third tone, not the chù of 到处. The second is that 处于 needs an abstract object. You cannot say 我处于北京 for "I am in Beijing" - that is 我在北京. Reach for 处于 only when the following noun names a situation.
Where this fits
Add to review queue
Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueMandarin · Free printables
处于: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "处于" (to be in (a state or position), to find oneself in): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 56.