How to Write 侧 (cè) — Meaning “side; lateral”

Imagine a person (亻) standing sideways next to a tall ruler (则). The ruler is measuring something, and the person leans to the side to watch, so you remember that 侧 means "side" or "lateral." This visual of a person beside a ruler helps connect the parts to the meaning.

Write the left radical 亻 with a leftward slant (撇) then a straight vertical; keep it narrow. The right part 则 should have a vertical, horizontal bend, then a left-falling stroke, dot, and finally a vertical hook—do not make the last stroke a simple vertical. A common mistake is making the left radical too wide or the right part too large, so keep both balanced.

侧 (cè) means "side" and has 则 on the right. 仰 (yǎng) means "to look up" or "to face upward" and has the component 卬 on the right. 仲 (zhòng) means "middle" or "second" and contains 中 (middle) on the right. Visually, the right parts are distinct, and their meanings are completely different: side vs. upward vs. middle.

侧 appears in everyday words like 左侧 (left side), 侧面 (side view or aspect), and 侧身 (to turn sideways). It is also found in technical terms such as 侧滑 (sideslip) in driving. A cultural note: the idiom 侧目而视 describes looking at someone with sideways glances to show displeasure or fear.

Common words containing 侧 include: 左侧 (zuǒ cè) — Left side; 侧面 (cè miàn) — Side / Profile / Aspect; 侧身 (cè shēn) — Turn sideways / Sideways.