TongTong通通
Sign in

左右 (zuǒ yòu) — (noun) left and right; both sides; (postposition) approximately; about (used after numbers or times); (verb) to control; to dominate; to influence

Definition

As a noun, 左右 means 'left and right (sides)'; after a number or time it means 'approximately, about' (same pattern as 上下, 内外). As a verb it means 'to control / influence' (e.g. 左右某人的想法).

noun
left and rightboth sides(postposition) approximatelyabout (used after numbers or times)
verb
to controlto dominateto influence

Examples

  • 左右。
    Qǐng nǐ kàn yí xià zuǒ yòu liǎng biān.
    Please look at both the left and right sides.
  • 左右。
    Wǒ měi tiān dà gài jiǔ diǎn zuǒ yòu dào jiā.
    I get home at around nine o'clock every day.
  • 左右。
    Méi yǒu rén néng zuǒ yòu tā de xiǎng fǎ.
    No one can influence his thoughts.
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 6DirectionsQuantity & Amount3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 4 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.