由
from (a place or a time); formal
Structure
由 + 地点／时间 + 动词
What it means
由 means “from (a place or a time)”, like 从, but formal. With a person, it says who is responsible for doing something.
How it is built
由 + place／time + verb: 我们的车早上八点由北京出发 (our coach leaves Beijing at eight in the morning). 由 + person + verb: 今天由我带领大家 (today I’ll be your guide).
When to use it
You hear it in announcements and read it on signs and in guidebooks, and tour guides like it: 请大家由这个门进入. In everyday talk people say 从. 由东向西 means “from east to west”.
Watch out
Like 从, it goes before the verb: ✗ 我们出发由北京 ✓ 我们由北京出发.
Examples
我们的车早上八点由北京出发。
Our coach leaves Beijing at eight in the morning.
长城由东向西，经过中国北方的很多地方。
The Great Wall runs from east to west across much of northern China.
请大家由这个门进入。
Please go in through this gate, everyone.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 17: 长城 (The Great Wall)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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