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Expressing approximation with 左右 (zuǒyòu)
Numbers & Quantity
Structure
Number/Quantity + 左右
Explanation
The particle 左右 (zuǒyòu) is placed after a number or quantity to express approximation, meaning "approximately" or "more or less." It literally means "left and right" but functions as an estimator in numerical contexts. For example, 三十度左右 means "around 30 degrees."
Examples
从这里开车到机场大概四十分钟左右。
Cóng zhèlǐ kāichē dào jīchǎng dàgài sìshí fēnzhōng zuǒyòu.
It takes about forty minutes to drive from here to the airport.
今天气温在二十五度左右，很舒服。
Jīntiān qìwēn zài èrshíwǔ dù zuǒyòu, hěn shūfu.
The temperature today is around twenty-five degrees — very comfortable.
这件衣服大概三百块左右。
Zhè jiàn yīfu dàgài sānbǎi kuài zuǒyòu.
This piece of clothing costs about three hundred yuan.