Prepositions of Time, Place, Direction and Object
于, 自, 至 and 朝着 are written prepositions that replace the spoken 在, 从, 到 and 向. 于 marks time or place, 自 marks a starting point, 至 marks an end point, and 朝着 marks direction.
In English
Written Chinese often swaps the everyday prepositions 在, 从, 到 and 向 for 于, 自, 至 and 朝着. 于 means 'at' or 'in' for time and place (生于北京). 自 marks a starting point (自古以来, 来自上海).
至 marks the end point and pairs with 自 or 从 (自九点至五点). 朝着 means 'towards' and fits movement and development. You meet them in news, notices and speeches.
They sound stiff in casual talk, so learn them for reading and formal writing.
书面语中，'于、自、至、朝着'常常替换口语的'在、从、到、向'，语气更正式，多见于新闻、公文、演讲。
于 = 在（时间/地点）：大会于明日上午九点召开（=在明日）；他生于北京（=在北京出生）。
自 = 从（起点，时间或来源）：自古以来（=从古代到现在）；这批货物来自上海（=从上海来）。
至 = 到（终点，常与'自/从'搭配成'自…至…'）：自1990年至2020年（=从1990年到2020年）；至今未有结果（=到现在还没有结果）。
朝着 = 向（方向，强调持续朝某个方向移动/发展）：船朝着港口驶去；公司朝着国际化的方向发展。
常见错误：'于'放在动词前后位置不同，意思会变（生于北京 vs 在北京生活，后者仍用'在'，日常口语描述持续状态不用'于'）；'自'不能单独用作句尾。
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这位作家生于1985年，现居上海。 | Zhè wèi zuò jiā shēng yú yī jiǔ bā wǔ nián, xiàn jū Shàng hǎi. | This writer was born in 1985 and currently resides in Shanghai. | 于 (formal 'in/at') marking the time of birth — the minimal frame. |
| 这个习俗自古以来就一直流传至今，从未间断。 | Zhè ge xí sú zì gǔ yǐ lái jiù yī zhí liú chuán zhì jīn, cóng wèi jiàn duàn. | This custom has been passed down from ancient times to the present, without ever being interrupted. | 自 (formal 'from') and 至 (formal 'to') combined in the fixed phrase 自古以来…至今. |
| 公司自成立以来一直朝着国际化的方向发展，董事会将于下个月宣布一项重大投资计划，预计至年底前完成海外市场的布局。 | Gōng sī zì chéng lì yǐ lái yī zhí cháo zhe guó jì huà de fāng xiàng fā zhǎn, dǒng shì huì jiāng yú xià gè yuè xuān bù yī xiàng zhòng dà tóu zī jì huà, yù jì zhì nián dǐ qián wán chéng hǎi wài shì chǎng de bù jú. | The company has been developing toward internationalization since its founding; the board will announce a major investment plan next month, expected to complete its overseas market layout by the end of the year. | 自, 朝着, 于, and 至 combined in one formal business-announcement sentence, using all four prepositions together. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
于 (yú)
A written 'at' or 'in' for time and place, often after a verb.
Structure: verb + 于 + time/place
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这位科学家出生于一个小村庄。 | Zhè wèi kē xué jiā chū shēng yú yí ge xiǎo cūn zhuāng. | This scientist was born in a small village. |
| 会议将于下周三下午举行。 | Huì yì jiāng yú xià zhōu sān xià wǔ jǔ xíng. | The meeting will be held next Wednesday afternoon. |
| 他毕业于北京大学。 | Tā bì yè yú Běi jīng Dà xué. | He graduated from Peking University. |
Not: 我于家里吃饭。 于 lives in formal writing and set phrases like 生于; at home you say 在家里.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 6, prepositions (引出时间、处所).
自 (zì)
A written 'from', marking a starting point in time, place or source.
Structure: 自 + start point
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这些资料来自不同的国家。 | Zhè xiē zī liào lái zì bù tóng de guó jiā. | These materials come from different countries. |
| 本店自开业以来，生意一直很好。 | Běn diàn zì kāi yè yǐ lái, shēng yi yì zhí hěn hǎo. | Since it opened, this shop has done well. |
| 自这个月起，图书馆延长开放时间。 | Zì zhè ge yuè qǐ, tú shū guǎn yán cháng kāi fàng shí jiān. | From this month the library has longer opening hours. |
Not: 我自昨天很忙。 自 needs a closing word such as 起 or 以来: 自昨天起.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, prepositions (引出时间、处所).
至 (zhì)
A written 'to' or 'until', marking an end point; often paired with 自 or 从.
Structure: 自/从 A 至 B
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 营业时间为上午九点至晚上九点。 | Yíng yè shí jiān wéi shàng wǔ jiǔ diǎn zhì wǎn shang jiǔ diǎn. | Opening hours are nine in the morning to nine in the evening. |
| 比赛将持续至下周五。 | Bǐ sài jiāng chí xù zhì xià zhōu wǔ. | The competition will last until next Friday. |
| 这条地铁线从城东开至城西。 | Zhè tiáo dì tiě xiàn cóng chéng dōng kāi zhì chéng xī. | This metro line runs from the east of the city to the west. |
Not: 我今天至学校上课。 至 means 'up to', not 'go to'; say 去学校.
朝着 (cháo zhe)
Means 'towards', for a direction of movement or development.
Structure: 朝着 + direction + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 孩子朝着妈妈跑了过去。 | Hái zi cháo zhe mā ma pǎo le guò qù. | The child ran towards his mother. |
| 我们要朝着自己的目标不断努力。 | Wǒ men yào cháo zhe zì jǐ de mù biāo bú duàn nǔ lì. | We must keep working towards our goals. |
| 汽车朝着南边开去。 | Qì chē cháo zhe nán bian kāi qù. | The car drove off towards the south. |
Not: 他朝着看我。 朝着 is followed by the direction, then the verb: 朝着我看.
Compared side by side: 朝着 vs 向.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
What this opens up
These patterns list Prepositions of Time, Place, Direction and Object among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Prepositions of Time, Place, Direction and Object
What does 引出时间、处所、方向、对象的介词 (Prepositions of Time, Place, Direction and Object) mean in Chinese?
于, 自, 至 and 朝着 are written prepositions that replace the spoken 在, 从, 到 and 向. 于 marks time or place, 自 marks a starting point, 至 marks an end point, and 朝着 marks direction. It is an HSK 6 grammar point.
How do you use 引出时间、处所、方向、对象的介词 (Prepositions of Time, Place, Direction and Object) in a sentence?
这位作家生于1985年，现居上海。 — Zhè wèi zuò jiā shēng yú yī jiǔ bā wǔ nián, xiàn jū Shàng hǎi. — This writer was born in 1985 and currently resides in Shanghai. 于 (formal 'in/at') marking the time of birth — the minimal frame.
What do you need to know before 引出时间、处所、方向、对象的介词 (Prepositions of Time, Place, Direction and Object)?
Preposition 随着 (along with, as) (HSK 5). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What does 引出时间、处所、方向、对象的介词 (Prepositions of Time, Place, Direction and Object) lead to?
Prepositions of Purpose, Exclusion and Basis (HSK 6). Each of them names 引出时间、处所、方向、对象的介词 (Prepositions of Time, Place, Direction and Object) among its own prerequisites.
Are 于, 自 and 至 only for writing?
Mostly yes. In speech you use 在, 从 and 到. In news, notices, speeches and set phrases such as 自古以来 or 位于, the written forms are normal.
What is the difference between 朝着 and 向?
Both mean 'towards'. 朝着 stresses continuing in that direction and suits goals and movement: 朝着目标前进. 向 also marks the person you speak to: 向他道歉.
Prepositions of Time, Place, Direction and Object is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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