左右

zuǒyòu

adverb HSK 3 #2,179

Meanings

Literally 'left and right' — when something could go either way, it's 'approximately.' Also implies influence, as if pushing someone left or right.

他三十岁左右。

Tā sānshí suì zuǒyòu.

He's about thirty years old.

大概五点左右到。

Dàgài wǔ diǎn zuǒyòu dào.

We'll arrive at around five o'clock.

不要被别人左右。

Búyào bèi biérén zuǒyòu.

Don't let others influence you.

请看左右两边。

Qǐng kàn zuǒyòu liǎngbiān.

Please look at both the left and right sides.

usage

When meaning 'approximately,' 左右 is placed after a number or time expression: 三个小时左右 (about 3 hours).

grammar

The 'influence' meaning is more formal/literary. In everyday speech, 左右 most commonly means 'approximately.'

mistakes

Don't confuse 左右 (approximately, after a number) with 大概 (approximately, before a number). 三十岁左右 = 大概三十岁.

左 zuǒ

右 yòu