Approximate numbers 2: “左右”

In Chinese, 左右 (zuǒyòu) is placed AFTER a numeral, time, price, or quantity to indicate an approximate number (equivalent to “about”, “around”, or “or so” in English).

Common combinations: 三点左右 (around 3 o'clock), 五个左右 (about five), 十年左右 (10 years or so).

Grammar Structure

Numeral + Measure Word / Time + 左右

Example Sentences

周(Zhōu)末(mò)我(wǒ)一(yì)般(bān)十(shí)点(diǎn)左(zuǒ)右(yòu)起(qǐ)床(chuáng)。

On weekends I usually get up around ten o'clock.

我(Wǒ)们(men)公(gōng)司(sī)有(yǒu)五(wǔ)百(bǎi)人(rén)左(zuǒ)右(yòu)。

There are about five hundred people in our company.

王(Wáng)经(jīng)理(lǐ)两(liǎng)点(diǎn)左(zuǒ)右(yòu)来(lái)了(le)个(gè)电(diàn)话(huà)。

Manager Wang called around two o'clock.

这(Zhè)个(ge)笔(bǐ)记(jì)本(běn)电(diàn)脑(nǎo)我(wǒ)去(qù)年(nián)买(mǎi)的(de)时(shí)候(hou)要(yào)五(wǔ)千(qiān)块(kuài)左(zuǒ)右(yòu)。

When I bought this laptop last year, it cost around five thousand yuan.