How to Write 右 (yòu) — Meaning “right (side)”

Picture your right hand lifting food to your mouth—the top part is the hand and the bottom 口 is the mouth. This mental image ties the character directly to the idea of "right side."

Start with a horizontal stroke (一), then a left-falling stroke (丿) from its left side, followed by the 口 radical. A common mistake is making the first stroke too short or writing the 口 too wide—the top should be slightly wider than the mouth below.

口 is just a square box meaning "mouth" and has no extra strokes on top. 卟 is a rare character with a vertical line and a dot inside the box (like 卜), used for a sound or divination. 右 always has a hand-like shape above the mouth radical.

You use 右 to indicate direction, such as 右边 (right side) and 右手 (right hand). It also appears in 左右 to mean "approximately" or "left and right." In Chinese culture, the right side is often seen as more respectful in formal seating arrangements.

Common words containing 右 include: 右边 (yòu biān) — right side; 右手 (yòu shǒu) — right hand; 左右 (zuǒ yòu) — Around; approximately; left and right.