Classical grammar words in the Dao De Jing
于 yú
In the Dao De Jing, 于 (yú) is nearly always a preposition of place and direction, “in”, “at”, “to” or “from” (42 times), and 5 times “than”.
于 introduces where an action happens, where it goes or where it comes from, and the phrase it heads follows the verb: 始于足下, starts beneath your feet. After an adjective it compares: “than”.
Modern Chinese uses 在, 到, 从 and 对 for these, and 比 for “than”, placed before the adjective. 于 remains in formal words such as 关于, “about”, 由于, “owing to”, and 等于, “equals”. In traditional characters it is usually written 於.
于 as “to, at”
Pattern Verb + 于 + place
Here 于 is a preposition that follows the verb and points to a place, a time, a person or a starting point: “in”, “at”, “to”, “from”, “toward”. English needs different words for it; Chinese uses one. Example: 复归于朴, “ever returning to the uncarved block.” (chapter 28); 有生于无, “and presence is born from absence.” (chapter 40).
42 times in 41 lines.
故几于道。
thus is almost like the Way.
Chapter 8, line 4绳绳不可名，复归于无物，
Existing continuously, it cannot be named and it returns to no-thingness.
Chapter 14, line 6我独异于人，而贵食母。
I alone differ from people, as I value the nurturing mother.
Chapter 20, line 20而况于人乎？
how much less can people?
Chapter 23, line 6故从事于道者，
Thus, by engaging with the Way,
Chapter 23, line 7同于道，
the daoist bonds with the Way,
Chapter 23, line 8
Show 35 more lines
德者同于德，
the virtuous bonds with virtue,
Chapter 23, line 9失者同于失。
the vanquished bonds with defeat.
Chapter 23, line 10同于道者，道亦乐得之；
The daoist who bonds, is also gladly received by the Way.
Chapter 23, line 11同于德者，德亦乐得之；
The virtuous who bonds, is also gladly received by virtue.
Chapter 23, line 12同于失者，失亦乐得之。
The vanquished who bonds, is also gladly received by defeat.
Chapter 23, line 13复归于婴儿。
ever returning to the newborn.
Chapter 28, line 3复归于无极。
ever reverting to infinity.
Chapter 28, line 6复归于朴。
ever returning to the uncarved block.
Chapter 28, line 9则不可得志于天下矣。
cannot achieve his aims in the world.
Chapter 31, line 10犹川谷之于江海。
is like streams and valleys flowing to rivers and seas.
Chapter 32, line 11常无欲，可名于小；
Ever without desire, it can be called small;
Chapter 34, line 5鱼不可脱于渊，
Fish must not leave the deep water;
Chapter 36, line 7天下万物生于有，
The myriad things of the world are born from presence,
Chapter 40, line 3有生于无。
and presence is born from absence.
Chapter 40, line 4天下无道，戎马生于郊。
When the world lacks the Way, warhorses are bred on the borders.
Chapter 46, line 2损之又损，以至于无为。
Losing and losing again, one arrives at non-action.
Chapter 48, line 2使我介然有知，行于大道，
If I had the least knowledge, walking on the great Way,
Chapter 53, line 1修之于身，其德乃真；
Cultivate it in yourself, and virtue will be genuine;
Chapter 54, line 4修之于家，其德乃余；
cultivate it in the family, and virtue will be abundant;
Chapter 54, line 5修之于乡，其德乃长；
cultivate it in the village, and virtue will last;
Chapter 54, line 6修之于国，其德乃丰；
cultivate it in the state, and virtue will flourish;
Chapter 54, line 7修之于天下，其德乃普。
cultivate it in the world, and virtue will be everywhere.
Chapter 54, line 8含德之厚，比于赤子。
One who holds virtue in fullness is like a newborn child.
Chapter 55, line 1图难于其易，为大于其细；
Plan the difficult while it is easy; do the great while it is small.
Chapter 63, line 4天下难事必作于易，
The difficult things of the world always start out easy;
Chapter 63, line 5天下大事必作于细。
the great things of the world always start out small.
Chapter 63, line 6为之于未有，
Deal with things before they exist;
Chapter 64, line 3治之于未乱。
put them in order before disorder comes.
Chapter 64, line 4生于毫末；
grows from a tiny shoot;
Chapter 64, line 6起于累土；
rises from a heap of earth;
Chapter 64, line 8千里之行，始于足下。
a journey of a thousand miles starts beneath your feet.
Chapter 64, line 9民之从事，常于几成而败之。
People at their work often spoil it when it is almost done.
Chapter 64, line 13勇于敢则杀，
Bravery in daring leads to death;
Chapter 73, line 1勇于不敢则活。
bravery in not daring leads to life.
Chapter 73, line 2而不责于人。
but makes no demands on others.
Chapter 79, line 4
于 as “than”
Pattern Adjective + 于 + B
After an adjective, 于 compares: “more … than B”. Classical Chinese needs no word for “more”; the adjective followed by 于 is enough. Example: 天下莫柔弱于水, “Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water,” (chapter 78). Three times it comes as 莫大于, “nothing is greater than”: 祸莫大于不知足, “No disaster is greater than not knowing what is enough;” (chapter 46).
5 times in 5 lines.
祸莫大于不知足；
No disaster is greater than not knowing what is enough;
Chapter 46, line 3咎莫大于欲得。
no fault is greater than wanting to gain.
Chapter 46, line 4祸莫大于轻敌，轻敌几丧吾宝。
No disaster is greater than underrating the enemy; underrating the enemy nearly loses my treasures.
Chapter 69, line 6是贤于贵生。
are wiser than those who prize life.
Chapter 75, line 9天下莫柔弱于水，
Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water,
Chapter 78, line 1
How to tell them apart
Look at the word before 于. A verb (return, be born, start) makes it “to”, “in” or “from”; an adjective (great, soft) makes it “than”. Chapter 46 has both in two lines that follow each other: 戎马生于郊, “warhorses are bred on the borders”, and 祸莫大于不知足, “No disaster is greater than not knowing what is enough”.