于是

The Chinese word 于是 (yú shì) is composed of two characters: 于 (yú) and 是 (shì). 于 originally meant "to go to" or "to reach", but in modern Chinese, it is often used as a preposition meaning "at", "on", or "in". 是, on the other hand, means "this" or "that". When combined, 于是 literally means "at this" or "at that". However, in most cases, it is used as a conjunction meaning "so", "then", or "as a result".The earliest known use of 于是 dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period (771–476 BCE). It was originally used as a literary device to mark the beginning of a new section or paragraph. Over time, it began to be used more widely as a conjunction. By the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), 于是 was commonly used in both written and spoken Chinese.Today, 于是 remains one of the most commonly used conjunctions in Chinese. It is used in a wide variety of contexts, both formal and informal. For HSK learners, it is important to understand the basic meaning and usage of 于是 in order to effectively communicate in Chinese.