zuǒyòu: 左右 - Left and Right, Approximately, Around, To Influence
Quick Summary
Keywords: zuoyou, 左右, around, approximately, about, left and right, to influence, Chinese grammar, Chinese time, Chinese numbers, Chinese for beginners
Summary: Discover the versatile Chinese word 左右 (zuǒyòu), a must-know term for any Mandarin learner. While its literal meaning is “left and right,” its most common and practical use is to say “approximately” or “around,” especially with time, age, and numbers. This guide will break down how to use 左右 (zuǒyòu) to make your speech sound more natural, explore its deeper meaning of “to influence,” and help you avoid common mistakes.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): zuǒyòu
Part of Speech: Noun, Adverb, Verb
HSK Level: HSK 3
Concise Definition: “Left and right,” “approximately/around,” or “to influence/control.”
In a Nutshell: Imagine you're pointing to a number on a line. 左右 (zuǒyòu) refers to the space just to the “left and right” of that point, which is why it means “approximately” or “around.” It's the Chinese equivalent of saying “five-ish,” “around ten o'clock,” or “thirty-something years old.” It softens exact numbers, making you sound more flexible and natural in everyday conversation. Beyond numbers, it can take on a more powerful meaning of influencing or controlling a situation.
Character Breakdown
左 (zuǒ): Left. The character originally depicted a left hand. It contains the component for “work” (工 gōng), perhaps suggesting the assisting or secondary hand.
右 (yòu): Right. This character originally depicted a right hand (又 yòu) reaching for a mouth (口 kǒu), likely representing the hand used for eating.
By combining the concepts of “left” and “right,” 左右 (zuǒyòu) encompasses the entire area surrounding a central point. This physical sense of “all sides” or “in the vicinity of” logically extends to the abstract idea of being “around” or “approximately” a certain value.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, vagueness isn't always a negative trait; it can be a form of politeness and flexibility. Stating an exact time for a casual meeting can sound rigid or demanding. Using 左右 (zuǒyòu), like saying “我们晚上七点左右见 (Wǒmen wǎnshang qī diǎn zuǒyòu jiàn)” (Let's meet around 7 PM), is softer and gives the other person more leeway. It reflects a cultural preference for harmony and reducing social pressure.
This contrasts with some Western cultural contexts, particularly in business, where precision and punctuality (“see you at 7:00 PM sharp”) are often highly valued. Understanding when to be precise and when to use 左右 (zuǒyòu) is key to navigating Chinese social etiquette.
The more advanced meaning, “to influence or control,” (e.g., 左右别人的想法 - to influence someone's thoughts) touches on concepts of power and persuasion, which are central themes in Chinese history, politics, and strategy.
Practical Usage in Modern China
1. Expressing Approximation (Most Common Use): This is the primary function for beginner and intermediate learners. It is always placed after the number and measure word.
With Time: “三点左右” (sān diǎn zuǒyòu) - Around 3 o'clock.
With Age: “他四十岁左右” (tā sìshí suì zuǒyòu) - He is about 40 years old.
With Money: “这本书一百块左右” (zhè běn shū yībǎi kuài zuǒyòu) - This book is around 100 RMB.
With Quantity: “来了五十人左右” (láile wǔshí rén zuǒyòu) - About 50 people came.
2. To Influence or Control (Formal / Written): This usage is more common in news, formal discussions, or literature. It acts as a verb.
“他想左右选举的结果。” (Tā xiǎng zuǒyòu xuǎnjǔ de jiéguǒ.) - He wants to influence the result of the election.
“不要被情绪左右。” (Bùyào bèi qíngxù zuǒyòu.) - Don't be controlled by your emotions.
3. Literal Left and Right (As a Noun):
This is often used when describing a physical action, like looking both ways.
“过马路要看看左右。” (Guò mǎlù yào kànkan zuǒyòu.) - You should look left and right when crossing the street.
Analysis: This is the most common use of 左右. It's placed after the time phrase “七点” (qī diǎn) to indicate approximation.
Example 2:
这件衣服要两百块左右。
Pinyin: Zhè jiàn yīfu yào liǎng bǎi kuài zuǒyòu.
English: This piece of clothing costs about 200 kuai.
Analysis: Here, 左右 is used with money. It's a natural way to state a price that you're not 100% certain of or to give a general estimate.
Example 3:
会议大概需要一个小时左右。
Pinyin: Huìyì dàgài xūyào yī ge xiǎoshí zuǒyòu.
English: The meeting will probably take about an hour.
Analysis: This sentence shows 左右 used with a duration. Note that it can be used along with 大概 (dàgài) for emphasis, though using just one of them is also correct.
Example 4:
他的年龄在三十岁左右。
Pinyin: Tā de niánlíng zài sānshí suì zuǒyòu.
English: His age is around 30 years old.
Analysis: A perfect example of using 左右 to estimate someone's age, which is often more polite than guessing a specific number.
Example 5:
过马路前，他向左右看了看。
Pinyin: Guò mǎlù qián, tā xiàng zuǒyòu kàn le kàn.
English: Before crossing the street, he looked left and right.
Analysis: This demonstrates the literal meaning of 左右. It functions as a noun here, meaning “the left and right directions.”
Example 6:
你不应该让别人的意见左右你的决定。
Pinyin: Nǐ bù yìnggāi ràng biérén de yìjiàn zuǒyòu nǐ de juédìng.
English: You shouldn't let other people's opinions influence your decision.
Analysis: Here, 左右 is used as a verb meaning “to influence” or “to control.” This is a more advanced but very important usage.
Example 7:
我们公司有两千名左右的员工。
Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī yǒu liǎng qiān míng zuǒyòu de yuángōng.
English: Our company has approximately 2,000 employees.
Analysis: Used with a large number and a measure word (名 míng), showing its scalability for any quantity.
English: I think the weight of this bag is around 5 kilograms.
Analysis: Shows the use of 左右 with units of measurement, like weight in this case.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
Placement is Crucial:左右 *always* goes after the noun phrase (number + measure word). English speakers often make the mistake of putting it before, like in English (“around 10 o'clock”).
Incorrect: 我会左右三点到。(Wǒ huì zuǒyòu sān diǎn dào.)
Correct: 我会三点左右到。(Wǒ huì sān diǎn zuǒyòu dào.)
“Around” vs. “Nearby” (False Friend):左右 means “approximately” when used with numbers. It does not mean “physically around” or “nearby.” For that, you must use 附近 (fùjìn). This is one of the most common mistakes for learners.
Incorrect: 银行在邮局左右。(Yínháng zài yóujú zuǒyòu.)
Correct: 银行在邮局附近。(Yínháng zài yóujú fùjìn.) (The bank is near the post office.)
Don't use with “几 (jǐ)”: The word 几 (jǐ) already implies an approximation (meaning “a few” or asking “how many”). Adding 左右 after it is redundant and sounds unnatural.
Incorrect: 我有几块钱左右。(Wǒ yǒu jǐ kuài qián zuǒyòu.)
Correct: 我有几块钱。(Wǒ yǒu jǐ kuài qián.) OR 我有十块钱左右。(Wǒ yǒu shí kuài qián zuǒyòu.)
Related Terms and Concepts
附近 (fùjìn) - Nearby, in the vicinity. Use this for physical location, not numerical approximation. It is the correct word for “around the school.”
大概 (dàgài) - Approximately, probably. A very common synonym for the “approximately” meaning. It can be placed before the verb or number phrase (e.g., “大概三点”).
差不多 (chàbuduō) - Almost, about the same, more or less. A versatile term that can mean “approximately” but also “good enough” or “similar.”
上下 (shàngxià) - Up and down. A synonym for 左右 when referring to age or numbers, meaning “give or take.” (e.g., 三十岁上下 - around 30 years old).
影响 (yǐngxiǎng) - To influence, impact. A common synonym for the verb meaning of 左右, but often carries a more neutral or indirect connotation.
控制 (kòngzhì) - To control. A stronger, more direct synonym for the verb meaning of 左右, implying direct manipulation.