左派 (zuǒ pài) — the left; left-wing (as a political orientation… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Noun for the political 'left' or 'left wing' — a faction, movement, or collectively its members. Used as the natural counterpart to 右派 ('the right') in political contexts.

noun

the leftleft-wing (as a political orientation or faction)leftist (person holding left-wing views — often used collectively)

Examples

左派。
Zhè wèi zhèng dǎng lǐng xiù shì jiān dìng de zuǒ pài chéng yuán.
This party leader is a firm member of the left.
，左派。
Zài nà cì xuǎn jǔ zhōng, zuǒ pài yǔ yòu pài jī liè jiāo fēng.
In that election, the left clashed fiercely with the right.
左派。
Tā de zhèng zhì guān diǎn yuè lái yuè piān xiàng zuǒ pài.
His political views are increasingly leaning toward the left.

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.

派pàifaction

“左” (left) and “派” (faction) mean the left-wing faction.

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.

𠂇工左

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.

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

水水shuǐwater; river

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠂢

𠂢𠂢派pài

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

派 is built from 水 (water/river) and 𠂢. 𠂢 gives the sound, and 水 was added later to tell the character apart from the older form.

Appears in

Government & Politics

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