To lie in / consist in (在于)

Structure Abstract subject (关键 · 问题 · 意义) + 在于 + the essence (phrase or clause)

在于 (zài yú) is a literary copula that pinpoints the ESSENCE, the crux or the cause of something: "lies in", "consists in". The subject is usually abstract (关键, 问题, 意义, 原因, 目的) and what follows 在于 can be a noun or a whole clause: 问题的关键在于执行 "the crux of the problem lies in execution". It is the written, abstract counterpart of locative 在 (which places things in space): here there is no physical place, only the point where what matters "resides". Common in essays, analysis and formal speech.

Examples

问wèn题tí的de关guān键jiàn在zài于yú落luò实shí，而ér非fēi口kǒu号hào。
The crux of the problem lies in implementation, not in slogans.
成chéng功gōng的de意yì义yì在zài于yú过guò程chéng，而ér不bù只zhǐ是shì结jié果guǒ。
The meaning of success lies in the process, not only in the result.
两liǎng国guó分fēn歧qí的de根gēn源yuán在zài于yú历lì史shǐ遗yí留liú问wèn题tí。
The root of the two countries' disagreements lies in historical legacy issues.

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