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左右手 (zuǒ yòu shǒu) — left and right hands; (figurative) capable assistants, trusted aides, right-hand helpers

Definition

Literally 'left and right hands'. Figuratively, it means one's most trusted, capable assistants — the people you rely on like your own two hands.

noun
left and right hands(figurative) capable assistantstrusted aidesright-hand helpers

Examples

  • 左右手，。
    Tā de zuǒ yòu shǒu dōu shòu shāng le, bù néng xiě zì.
    Both his left and right hands are injured, so he can't write.
  • 左右手。
    Tā shì wǒ zuì xìn rèn de zuǒ yòu shǒu.
    He is my most trusted right-hand assistant.
  • 左右手。
    Zǒng jīng lǐ de zuǒ yòu shǒu dōu shì jīng yàn fēng fù de zhuān jiā.
    The general manager's assistants are all experienced experts.

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.

左右left and right
左zuǒleft右yòuright
联合Coordinate
手shǒuhand

左 and 右 are left and right, and 手 is hand, so the word is the left and right hands.

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
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 →

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

手 draws a five-fingered human hand: the top line is a bent middle finger, and the horizontal lines show the other four fingers.

Open 手 →
Appears in
Body PartsSocial Roles & Status

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