Zi:右: Difference between revisions

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The Wenlin Zidian (namespace Zi)
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 The character 右 yòu ‘right (hand/side)’ has a shape like 𠂇 (short for 又, as in 有, 友) over 口 kǒu (phonetic); formerly wr. 又 yòu ‘right (hand/side)’ , the form 右 formerly meant 佑 yòu ‘help’.
-	The Shuōwén Seal form of 右(􀎥𠮢) yòu ‘help’ (佑) combines 又(􀠋) yòu ‘right hand’ (phonosemantic), and 口(􀌼𠙵) kǒu ‘mouth’ (phonosemantic): the right (dominant) hand (helped by the left hand) draws the bowstring to the mouth/cheek (cf. 左, 知); later wr. 佑, 祐(􀀝).
+	The Shuōwén Seal form of 右(􀎥𠮢) yòu ‘help’ (佑) combines 又(􀠋) yòu ‘strong/dominant right hand’ (phonosemantic), and 口(􀌼𠙵) kǒu ‘mouth’ (phonosemantic): the right (dominant) hand (helped by the left subordinate hand) draws the bowstring to the mouth/cheek (cf. 左, 知); later wr. 佑, 祐(􀀝).
-	Note: In Shuōwén the old meaning 右(􀎥𠮢) yòu ‘help’ (佑) is said to suggest that hand and mouth help one another: when strength (brute force) is not enough, the mouth offers assistance (words and reasoning may triumph over brute force); and when words do not suffice, the hand assists (bringing food to the mouth); in SW also wr. 祐(􀀝) ‘help; protect’, but the form 佑 is a later development; the character 右 came to write the old meaning of its component 又(􀠋) yòu ‘right hand’ (右手); today 又 as an independent character is used mainly for 又 yòu ‘again/and’; both 左 and 右 formerly meant ‘help’ (the left and right hands help each other), as in 左右=佐佑 ‘help/support’.
+	Note: In SW the old meaning 右(􀎥𠮢) yòu ‘help’ (佑) is said to suggest that hand and mouth help one another: when strength (brute force) is not enough, the mouth offers assistance (words and reasoning may triumph over brute force); and when words do not suffice, the hand assists (bringing food to the mouth); in SW also wr. 祐(􀀝) ‘help; protect’, but the form 佑 is a later development; the character 右 came to write the old meaning of its component 又(􀠋) yòu ‘right hand’ (右手); today 又 as an independent character is used mainly for 又 yòu ‘again/and’; both 左 and 右 formerly meant ‘help’ (the left and right hands help each other), as in 左右=佐佑 ‘help/support’.
 	Note: Alternatively, the right (clean) hand is that with which one 口 eats (vs. 左 the left/dirty hand with which one 工 works), but this is not a traditional explanation.
 	Note: In the modern form 右 the top component 𠂇 is a distortion of 又(􀠋) yòu ‘right hand’.