ReadWriteQuiz

Chinese dictionary
Show pinyin

  • 1

    n.the left and right sides

    • sān jiǎo xíng zuǒ yòu xiāng duì chèn

      三角形左右对称

      Triangle has bilateral symmetry.

    • tā zuǒ yòu pái huái

      左右徘徊

      He loitered around the left and right.

    • zhǔ xí tái zuǒ yòu de hóng qí yíng fēng piāo yáng zhe

      主席台左右红旗迎风飘扬

      Red flags are fluttering on both sides of the rostrum.

  • 2

    n.(used after a numeral) about; approximately; over and over

    • nǐ bèi yāo qiú shàng jiāo yī gè zì zuǒ yòu de zhāi yào

      要求上交200左右摘要

      You are asked to submit an abstract of approximately 200 words.

    • wǒ men zài chéng zhōng dào chù yóu guàng le yī gè xiǎo shí zuǒ yòu

      我们到处游逛小时左右

      We wandered about the town for an hour or so.

    • zhè jiàn lǐ wù jià zhí yuán zuǒ yòu

      礼物价值200左右

      The gift is worth about two hundred yuan.

  • 3

    n.those in close attendance; entourage; retinue; attendants

    • fēn fù zuǒ yòu tuì xià qu

      吩咐左右退下去

      order one's attendants to clear out

    • bǐng qì zuǒ yòu

      屏弃左右

      abandon one's attendants to clear out

    • tā bèi zuǒ yòu suǒ méng bì

      左右蒙蔽

      He has been deceived by those around him.

  • 4

    v.master; control

    • zuǒ yòu gōng gòng yú lùn

      左右公共舆论

      sway public opinion

    • zuǒ yòu jú shì de rén

      左右局势

      person with the ability to influence the situation

    • zuǒ yòu mìng yùn

      左右命运

      sway the destiny

  • 5

    adv.dialanyway; anyhow

    • wǒ zuǒ yòu xián zhe méi shì

      左右没事

      Anyway I'm free now.

    • wǒ zuǒ yòu bù ài wán diàn nǎo yóu xì

      左右电脑游戏

      Anyway I don't like playing computer game.

    • wǒ zuǒ yòu bù xiǎng gōng zuò

      左右工作

      Anyway I don't want to work.

Word usage

  • Note
    The usage difference between "上下" "左右" and "前后": 1)"上下" "左右" can be used to indicate an estimate of age, such as "30岁上下" and "30岁左右"; but "30岁前后" has a differnt meaning; 2) "左右" "前后" can be used to indicate an estimate of time, such as "10点左右", "11点前后"; but "12点上下" is not proper; 3) "上下" "左右" can be used to indicate an estimate of spatial distance, such as "3米上下", "5米左右"; but not "8米前后" is not proper.