左右 (zuǒ yòu)

Character breakdown

• 左 (Zuǒ) · 5 strokes

  Pictograph of a left hand. The 工 (work) component was added later to represent the meaning "help; assist", now written as 佐.

• 右 (yòu) · 5 strokes

  Pictograph of a right hand. The 口 (mouth) component was added later to distinguish the character from 又.