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.

Tā sānshí suì zuǒyòu.

He's about thirty years old.

Dàgài wǔ diǎn zuǒyòu dào.

We'll arrive at around five o'clock.

Bú yào bèi biérén zuǒyòu.

Don't let others influence you.

Qǐng kàn zuǒyòu liǎng biān.

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