右
yòu · HSK 1
right
✋ 右 = 又 (right hand) + 口 (mouth) — the hand you eat with
Oracle bone form shows a right hand; 口 was added later to disambiguate from 又. The right hand is the one that brings food to the mouth, hence the 'side of precedence' sense.
右 — hand 𝆑 (又) + mouth 口
Originally a pictograph of the right hand (又). Later 口 'mouth' was added to distinguish the directional meaning 'right' from the older hand sense. The 又 component now appears stylized as the top-left stroke shape, while 口 sits below.
yòu · HSK 2
right
✋ 右 = a hand (㔾) holding a mouth (口) — the hand you eat with: the right hand
Ancient form showed the right hand. Later 口 was added to distinguish it from 又 (also a hand). The right hand is the one most people use to bring food to the mouth.
右 — hand 𝆑 (又) + mouth 口
Originally a pictograph of the right hand (又). Later 口 'mouth' was added to distinguish the directional meaning 'right' from the older hand sense. The 又 component now appears stylized as the top-left stroke shape, while 口 sits below.