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左撇子 (zuǒ piě zi) — left-handed person

Definition

A casual, everyday noun for a left-handed person. In formal writing or medical contexts, 左手倾向者 or 左利手 may be used instead.

noun
left-handed person
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 左撇子，。
    Tā shì zuǒ piě zi, suǒ yǐ yòng zuǒ shǒu xiě zì.
    He is left-handed, so he writes with his left hand.
  • 左撇子。
    Zhè ge zuǒ piě zi de hái zi huà huà hěn yǒu tiān fù.
    This left-handed child has a lot of talent for drawing.
  • ，左撇子。
    Jù tǒng jì, dà yuē bǎi fēn zhī shí de rén shì zuǒ piě zi.
    According to statistics, about ten percent of people are left-handed.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

左撇left-handed
左zuǒleft撇piěleft-handed
联合Coordinate
子zǐnominalizing

“左” gives left and “撇” points to the handedness, while “子” completes the word for a person.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
敝
敝bì撇piě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

撇 uses 手 to show an action done with the hand and 敝 to give the pronunciation.

Open 撇 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
People (General)

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