右 meaning and stroke order
(bound form) right; right-hand side; (bound form) (politics) right of center; (bound form) (old) west
How to write 右, stroke by stroke
5 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Meaning of 右
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) right; right-hand side
- (bound form) (politics) right of center
- (bound form) (old) west
- (literary) the right side as the side of precedence
How 右 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 口 (mouth), shared by 428 characters on this site.
How to remember 右
右 (yòu) has a mouth 口 tucked under a hand-like stroke shape. Think of the hand you eat with: it brings food to your mouth 口, and for most people that is the right hand.
右 is usually a bound form, so it appears inside words like 右边 (yòubian), 右手 (yòushǒu), and 右转 (yòuzhuǎn) rather than alone. It is very common in giving directions. Example: 前面右转。(Qiánmian yòuzhuǎn.) Turn right up ahead.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 右 (yòu, right) and 左 (zuǒ, left), which share the same top stroke shape. Remember that 右 has 口 (mouth) inside and 左 has 工 (gōng) inside.
Common words with 右
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 右边 | yòubian | right side; right, to the right | HSK 1 |
| 左右 | zuǒyòu | left and right; nearby | HSK 3 |
| 座右铭 | zuòyòumíng | motto; maxim | HSK 7-9 |
| 左顾右盼 | zuǒgù-yòupàn | glancing to left and right (idiom); to look all around | HSK 7-9 |
| 右手 | yòushǒu | right hand; right-hand side | |
| 右转 | yòuzhuǎn | to turn right | |
| 右侧 | yòucè | right side | |
| 右翼 | yòuyì | the right flank; (politically) right-wing | |
| 右舷 | yòuxián | starboard (of a ship) | |
| 右派 | yòupài | (political) right; right wing | |
| 左右手 | zuǒyòushǒu | left and right hands; (fig.) capable assistant | |
| 右面 | yòumiàn | right side |
右 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 右
Learning 右 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 右
How many strokes are in 右?
右 is written with 5 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 右 mean?
右 (yòu) means (bound form) right; right-hand side; (bound form) (politics) right of center; (bound form) (old) west. A common word with it is 右边 (yòubian), meaning "right side; right, to the right".
How do you pronounce 右?
右 is pronounced yòu, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 右?
The radical of 右 is 口, which carries the idea of "mouth". Dictionaries list 右 under this radical.
Is 右 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 右 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
Why does 左右 (zuǒyòu) mean about or approximately?
Besides left and right, 左右 after a number means roughly that amount, as in 十点左右 (shí diǎn zuǒyòu), around ten o'clock. It can also mean nearby or to influence someone.
What does 座右铭 (zuòyòumíng) mean and why does it use 右?
座右铭 means a personal motto. In literary usage the right side was the side of precedence, and the term refers to a saying kept by one's seat as a reminder.