于

• Locative and Temporal: In, at, on (including physical locations, abstract states, or social positions); during.
• Directional: To, toward (destination) or from (source).
• Proper Name: Surname.
• Verb: Go to (found in early layers of the language).

• Comparative: Functions as "than" when paired with adjectives or verbs of degree.
• Agentive/Passive: Marks the agent of an action ("by") when the subject is the recipient; this usage is common in later Classical Chinese and Buddhist translations.

// Source vs. Destination: The glyph marks a relational point of motion; whether it indicates "to" or "from" is determined by the governing verb. In early texts, it frequently functions as 自 (//zì*).

• Variants: 于 and 於 are functionally identical in the vast majority of classical texts. Other variants include 𠀵.

• When encountering the construction Verb + 于 + Noun, check if the verb implies motion toward or away from the noun to determine if the meaning is "to" or "from."