左 zuǒ left
How it came to be
A left hand with a carpenter's square under it. The hand alone was not enough once the script had several hands, so the tool was added; right got a mouth for the same reason.
How it is used
- "Left" - 左边 (zuǒbian) the left side, 往左拐 (wǎng zuǒ guǎi) turn left. Pairs with 右 (yòu, right).
- Together 左右 (zuǒyòu) means "approximately" after a number - 三点左右 (sān diǎn zuǒyòu) around three o'clock - or "left and right".
Characters built with 左
Words with 左
Example sentences
- 请往左拐。 Qǐng wǎng zuǒ guǎi.Please turn left.
- 出口在左边。 Chūkǒu zài zuǒbian.The entrance is on the left.
- 请不要左右我！ Qǐng búyào zuǒyòu wǒ!Please don't control me!