左顾右盼

左顧右盼

zuǒgù-yòupàn

idiom HSK 7-9 #46,574

Meanings

他左顾右盼，不知道该走哪条路。

Tā zuǒgùyòupàn, bùzhī dào gāi zǒu nǎ tiáo lù.

He looked around hesitantly, not knowing which road to take.

上课的时候不要左顾右盼。

Shàngkè de shíhòu bùyào zuǒgùyòupàn.

Don't look around during class.

memory

左 (left) + 顾 (look back) + 右 (right) + 盼 (gaze) = looking left and right, either out of distraction, nervousness, or indecision.

usage

Can describe physical looking around (distracted, nervous) or figurative hesitation/indecisiveness.

左 zuǒ

顾 gù

右 yòu

盼 pàn