属于
shǔyū · HSK 3
to belong to; to fall under (a category)
属 = belong/category + 于 = at/to; together 'belongs to'
属 carries the sense of category or membership (also in 家属 family members, 金属 metal). 于 is a classical preposition meaning at/to. So 属于 literally reads as 'belongs-to', marking that something falls under a category.
属 — radical 尸 (corpse/body) + 禹/蜀 phonetic component
Originally written 屬, depicting a tail-like form attached to a body, suggesting connection or belonging. The 尸 radical relates to body/posture, while the lower component carried the sound. Over time the meaning extended from 'to join/attach' to 'belong to,' 'category,' and 'kind.'
于 — two horizontal strokes 二 + vertical hook 亅
于 originated as a pictograph of breath or sound flowing outward, depicting exhalation through a passage. In oracle bone script it resembled a curved line showing motion or extension. Over time it became a grammatical preposition meaning 'at,' 'in,' or 'to,' losing its original concrete sense.