How common it is
左右 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say zuǒyòu slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
左右可以表示左边和右边，也可表示大约。
zuǒ yòu kě yǐ biǎo shì zuǒ biān hé yòu biān， yě kě biǎo shì dà yuē。
左右 means left and right, or approximately.
Context note
左右常用于位置和时间估计。
zuǒ yòu cháng yòng yú wèi zhì hé shí jiān gū jì。
It is often used for position and time estimates.
5 examples
他站在我左右。
tā zhàn zài wǒ zuǒ yòu。
He stood to my left and right.
大概三点左右回来。
dà gài sān diǎn zuǒ yòu huí lái。
Come back around three o'clock.
左右两边都有人。
zuǒ yòu liǎng biān dōu yǒu rén。
There are people on both sides.
这个房间左右都很亮。
zhè ge fáng jiān zuǒ yòu dōu hěn liàng。
This room is bright on both sides.
比赛大概明天左右开始。
bǐ sài dà gài míng tiān zuǒ yòu kāi shǐ。
The match will probably start around tomorrow.
5 mini stories
他看了看左右，才往前走。
tā kàn le kàn zuǒ yòu， cái wǎng qián zǒu。
He looked left and right before walking forward.
大约十分钟左右就能到。
dà yuē shí fēn zhōng zuǒ yòu jiù néng dào。
It takes about ten minutes to get there.
孩子们坐在桌子左右。
hái zi men zuò zài zhuō zi zuǒ yòu。
The children sat on both sides of the table.
他不知道往左还是往右。
tā bù zhī dào wǎng zuǒ hái shì wǎng yòu。
He did not know whether to go left or right.
会议大概下午两点左右结束。
huì yì dà gài xià wǔ liǎng diǎn zuǒ yòu jié shù。
The meeting will probably end around two in the afternoon.