左右

zuǒ yòu

CL 个 gè 对 duì

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 4 Noun Common

Definitions

1. left and right
2. nearby
3. approximately
4. attendant
5. to control
6. to influence

Word relationships

Register variants

1 item

• 跟前 gēn qián 跟前 gēn qián the front (of) 口语中表示附近: the front (of)

Related words

1 item

• 随身 suí shēn 随身 suí shēn to (carry) on one's person attendant, 如随身人员: to (carry) on one's person

Synonyms

2 items

• 旁边 páng biān 旁边 páng biān side; adjacent place 位置：nearby: side; adjacent place
• 大约 dà yuē 大约 dà yuē approximately 数值：approximately: approximately

Usage notes

Common mistakes

When meaning 'approximately', 左右 must follow the number-word, not precede it (e.g., 十点左右, not 左右十点).

Formality

As a verb meaning 'to control', 左右 is formal and mostly used in written or elevated speech (e.g., 左右局势).

Example Sentences

4 shown

我们两点 左右 见面吧。

Let's meet around two o'clock.

我在10點 左右 去睡覺。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 879135)

他會在四點 左右 到這裡。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 5617163)

他五點 左右 會回來。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 846152)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org. AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 左右

• 不为左右袒 不为左右袒 bù wèi zuǒ yòu tǎn: to remain neutral in a quarrel (idiom)
• 左右两难 左右两难 zuǒ yòu liǎng nán: (idiom) between a rock and a hard place
• 左右共利 左右共利 zuǒ yòu gòng lì: ambidextrous
• 左右勾拳 左右勾拳 zuǒ yòu gōu quán: left hook and right hook (boxing)
• 左右手 左右手 zuǒ yòu shǒu: left and right hands
• 左右为难 左右为难 zuǒ yòu wéi nán: (idiom) between a rock and a hard place
• 左右袒 左右袒 zuǒ yòu tǎn: to take sides with
• 左右逢源 左右逢源 zuǒ yòu féng yuán: lit. to strike water right and left (idiom)
• 左右开弓 左右开弓 zuǒ yòu kāi gōng: lit. to shoot from both sides (idiom)
• 王顾左右而言他 王顾左右而言他 wáng gù zuǒ yòu ér yán tā: the king looked left and right and then talked of other things

Child Words of 左右

• 左 左 zuǒ: a surname
• 右 右 yòu: (bound form) right; right-hand side