右边
yoù bian · HSK 1
right side
➡️ 右 = right + 边 = side, so 右边 = right side
右 means right (the direction), and 边 means side or edge. Together 右边 literally reads as right-side. Pair it with 左边 (zuǒbian, left side) — same 边 suffix, opposite direction.
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.
边 — 辶 (walk) + 臱 (phonetic)
边 is the simplified form of 邊. It combines the walking radical 辶 with the phonetic component 臱, suggesting a place reached by walking — the edge or border of a territory. The meaning extended from 'frontier' to 'side' or 'edge' in general.