左倾 (zuǒ qīng) — (political) left-leaning, progressive; (historical) Left deviation, ultra-leftist error

Definition

Politically left-leaning; in CCP historical discourse, 左倾 often labels an ultra-leftist error or deviation, not just a moderate progressive stance. Pair with 倾向 when describing a tendency in views or policy.

(political) left-leaningprogressive(historical) Left deviationultra-leftist error
Easily confused

Examples

  • 左倾，。
    Tā de guān diǎn bǐ jiào zuǒ qīng, zhǔ zhāng jiā kuài tuī jìn gǎi gé.
    His views are relatively left-leaning; he advocates accelerating reform.
  • 左倾，。
    Lì shǐ shàng céng chū xiàn guò yán zhòng de zuǒ qīng cuò wù, dǎo zhì jīng jì kùn nan.
    In history there were serious Left deviation errors that led to economic difficulties.
  • 左倾。
    Zhè cì huì yì tǎo lùn le dāng qián cún zài de zuǒ qīng qīng xiàng.
    This meeting discussed the current left-leaning tendency.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

左zuǒleft
倾qīnglean

左 means left and 倾 means lean; the word describes leaning left politically.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
工工gōngwork
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂇
𠂇𠂇左zuǒ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

左 grew from the picture 𠂇, a left hand, with 工 (work) added later.

Open 左 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 傾; 倾 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
頃
頃qǐng傾qīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 傾 combines 人 (man) with 頃, which gives the sound; 倾 is the simplified form of 傾.

Open 倾 →

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