在于……

zàiyú...

Lie in / consist in... (在于……)

在于 identifies the key reason, essence, or main point of something.

Anchor example

成功的关键在于坚持。

Chénggōng de guānjiàn zàiyú jiānchí.

The key to success lies in persistence.

HSK 4

1 structures

15 exercises

Lesson summary

在于 identifies the key reason, essence, or main point of something.

Explanation

在于 identifies the key reason, essence, or main point of something. 取决于 means depends on a condition; 在于 identifies the essence or key point. Use it when the sentence needs this exact relationship: emphasis, aspect, viewpoint, essence, or dependence. Keep the connector near the phrase it introduces.

Structure Patterns

1 structures

Grammar pattern

A 在于 B

在于 identifies the key reason, essence, or main point of something.

成功的关键在于坚持。

Chénggōng de guānjiàn zàiyú jiānchí.

The key to success lies in persistence.

Common Mistakes

Putting 在于 in the wrong position.Keep it before the phrase/clause it introduces or in the fixed frame A 在于 B.
Using 在于…… for an unrelated second clause.Make sure the second part has the required emphasis, aspect, viewpoint, essence, or dependence relation.

Usage Notes

Core pattern: A 在于 B.
Use it to organize ideas clearly in HSK4-level explanations or arguments.
Compare similar connectors by function, not by one-word translation.

Practice

15 exercises

1 / 15

Fill in the blank:

成功的关键____坚持。

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