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左膀右臂 (zuǒ bǎng yòu bì) — trusted and capable right-hand assistant; indispensable aide

Definition

A chengyu meaning one's 'right-hand person' — a trusted, capable assistant who is indispensable. Used for people, not things.

idiom
trusted and capable right-hand assistantindispensable aide

Examples

  • 左膀右臂，。
    Zhāng zǒng zài gōng sī lǐ yǒu liǎng gè zuǒ bǎng yòu bì, bāng tā chǔ lǐ rì cháng shì wù.
    General Manager Zhang has two capable assistants in the company who help him handle daily affairs.
  • 左膀右臂，。
    Zhè wèi mì shū shì lǎo bǎn de zuǒ bǎng yòu bì, gōng sī hěn duō zhòng yào jué cè dōu lí bù kāi tā.
    This secretary is the boss's trusted aide; many important company decisions cannot be made without her.
  • ，左膀右臂，。
    Tā gēn suí wǒ èr shí nián, yì zhí shì wǒ de zuǒ bǎng yòu bì, wǒ wán quán xìn rèn tā.
    He has followed me for twenty years and has always been my right-hand person — I trust him completely.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

左膀left arm
左zuǒleft膀bǎngarm
偏正Modifier + head
右臂right arm
右yòuright臂bìarm
偏正Modifier + head

左膀 names the left arm and 右臂 names the right arm, together picturing a trusted, capable aide.

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
肉肉ròumeat; flesh
Sound part声符shēngfú
旁
旁páng膀pāng
Same sound today

The left part 肉 is flesh; the right part 旁 gives the sound.

Open 膀 →

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
肉肉ròumeat; flesh
Sound part声符shēngfú
辟
辟pì臂bei
Same sound today

臂 includes 肉, meaning meat or flesh, and 辟, which gives the character its sound.

Open 臂 →
Appears in
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