由 for an Origin or Entry Point in Chinese
由 + 起点
The preposition 由 introduces a spatial origin, route entry, or starting point before a movement predicate. In this lesson it is followed by a place and then by actions such as 出发 or 进入. Other meanings of 由, including agency and responsibility, belong to separate patterns and should not be mixed here.
Published July 30, 2026
Reviewed July 30, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 由 + Place + 出发 / 进入 + Destination
Read the structure
The preposition 由 introduces a spatial origin, route entry, or starting point before a movement predicate. In this lesson it is followed by a place and then by actions such as 出发 or 进入. Other meanings of 由, including agency and responsibility, belong to separate patterns and should not be mixed here. Keep the model Subject + 由 + Place + 出发 / 进入 + Destination visible while you compare each sentence.
这路公交车由机场出发。
This bus departs from the airport.
Choose the right context
Name the place from which movement begins. Mark an entrance used to enter a destination. Keep the complete 由 phrase before the movement predicate.
我们由南门进入公园。
We enter the park through the south gate.
Respect the boundary
Do not reverse 由 and its place complement. Do not strand the origin phrase after the destination. Do not confuse origin 由 with the separate agent or responsibility use.
这路公交车机场由出发。
(This bus airport from departs.)
Repair the pattern
The preposition follows its complement: A prepositional phrase requires 由 before the place complement. The origin phrase is placed after the destination: The 由 origin or entry phrase must modify the movement predicate from its pre-predicate position.
这路公交车由机场出发。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
这路公交车由机场出发。
This bus departs from the airport.
这
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
路
由
This part occupies the 由 position in the model pattern.
公
Place
This part occupies the Place position in the model pattern.
交
出发 / 进入
This part occupies the 出发 / 进入 position in the model pattern.
车
Destination
This part occupies the Destination position in the model pattern.
由
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
机场
由
This part occupies the 由 position in the model pattern.
出发
Place
This part occupies the Place position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
这路公交车由机场出发。
This bus departs from the airport.
我们由南门进入公园。
We enter the park through the south gate.
队伍由这里向北走。
The group heads north from here.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Name the place from which movement begins.
- Mark an entrance used to enter a destination.
- Keep the complete 由 phrase before the movement predicate.
Do not use it when
- Do not reverse 由 and its place complement.
- Do not strand the origin phrase after the destination.
- Do not confuse origin 由 with the separate agent or responsibility use.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
这路公交车机场由出发。
这路公交车由机场出发。
The preposition follows its complement
A prepositional phrase requires 由 before the place complement.
我们进入公园由南门。
我们由南门进入公园。
The origin phrase is placed after the destination
The 由 origin or entry phrase must modify the movement predicate from its pre-predicate position.
这路公交车机场由出发。
A prepositional phrase requires 由 before the place complement.
我们进入公园由南门。
The 由 origin or entry phrase must modify the movement predicate from its pre-predicate position.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 由 + 起点.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 由 + 起点. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
由 for an Origin or Entry Point Questions
How is 由 different from 从?
Both can introduce a starting point. 由 is common in route descriptions and more formal framing, while 从 is broadly neutral.
Can 由 name a person responsible for an action?
Yes, but that is a different construction. This card covers only spatial origin and entry.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 3 item 【三20】, PDF p. 201
Lists origin 由 at Level 3 with departure and park-entry examples.
Official source现代汉语语法课程讲义
包头师范学院 · 包头师范学院 · 2024
Locator: Course PDF pp. 17–18, prepositions and prepositional phrase function
Defines prepositions as preceding a complement and forming adverbial phrases that mark place and other event relations.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
从从 for a Starting Point
Compare origin 由 with neutral 从 before the same movement starting point.
Easy to confuse
自 + 时间 / 处所自 for a Formal Time or Place Starting Point
Compare spatial origin 由 with formal 自 before time or place sources.
Compare
在在 for Location and the Setting of an Action
由 marks where movement starts, while 在 marks where an entity or event is located.
Compare
沿（着）沿着: Along a Path
An origin phrase names the starting point, while 沿着 names the route followed.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Easy to confuse
Compare origin 由 with neutral 从 before the same movement starting point.