左右
さゆう · sayuu · JLPT N3 · noun
right
👈👉 左右 = left + right; to push someone left and right is to sway them
左 (sa) is left, 右 (yuu) is right. As a verb, 左右する means to influence or decide: whoever can move a thing left or right controls where it goes. Sound hook: sa-yuu, like SAY-YOU, as in a say over you.
左 — hand 𠂇 + work 工
Originally a pictograph of the left hand, later combined with 工 ('work') to specify the meaning 'left' and distinguish it from 右 ('right', hand + mouth). The hand component 𠂇 depicts fingers and a wrist, while 工 was added as a semantic clarifier referring to assisting work.
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.