左邻右舍 (zuǒ lín yòu shě) — neighbors; the people living nearby; (by extension) related work units; colleagues in related fields

Definition

Lit. 'left neighbors, right neighbors' — a set phrase for all the people living nearby. The extended sense ('related work units / colleagues in related fields') is a metaphorical use, not a separate phrase.

idiom
neighborsthe people living nearby(by extension) related work unitscolleagues in related fields

Examples

  • 左邻右舍。
    Wǒ men hé zuǒ lín yòu shě de guān xì hěn hǎo.
    We have a good relationship with our neighbors.
  • 左邻右舍。
    Zhè ge bù mén de zuǒ lín yòu shě dōu lái cān jiā nián huì le.
    The related work units of this department all came to the annual meeting.
  • 左邻右舍。
    zuǒ lín yòu shě Dōu kuā tā shì gè hǎo hái zi.
    All the neighbors praise him as a good child.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

左邻left neighbor
左zuǒleft邻línneighbor
偏正Modifier + head
右舍right dwelling
右yòuright舍shèdwelling
偏正Modifier + head

左邻 means the neighbor on the left and 右舍 means the dwelling on the right, together naming nearby people.

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 鄰; 邻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as邑yì
Sound part声符shēngfú
粦
粦lín鄰lín
Same sound today

The traditional form 鄰 pairs 粦 (lín) as the sound part with 阝 (the full form 邑, a settlement) as the meaning part; 邻 is a simplified shorthand.

Open 邻 →

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu右yòu
Same sound today

右 is made from 又, which supplied the sound, with 口 added as a distinguishing mark.

Open 右 →

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú舍shè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

舍 is 余 plus 口. 余 was the original picture for this word, and 口 was later added to distinguish it.

Open 舍 →

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