右

Derived from 又 (right hand), which in oracle bone script depicted the hand and originally encompassed meanings of “right,” “to assist,” and “to possess.”

Because oracle bone writing allowed free mirroring, 又 sometimes appeared as left-hand shaped, but for 左 (left) and 右 (right) the orientation was fixed.

To clarify meanings, additional characters were formed:

右 (right side),

佑 / 祐 (to help, assist),

有 (to have, exist).

Bronze inscriptions (金文): 右 was written as 又 with 口 added below left, functioning originally in the sense of “to assist.”

Over time, 右 came to be used more often for the meaning “right side,” while the assisting sense split off again into 佑.

In later clerical script (隸書 lìshū), the position of 口 shifted to the lower right, producing the modern form.

Stroke order distinctions remain: in regular script 左 begins with a horizontal stroke then slant, while 右 begins with slant then horizontal.

Semantic range:

- right side, right hand (오른쪽, 오른손);

- by extension: direction of honor (since the right side was often considered auspicious);

- historically, to assist, to protect (preserved in 佑 / 祐);

- to possess or have (preserved in 有).

右手 (우수) — right hand

左右 (좌우) — left and right; also “to influence, control”

右派 (우파) — right wing (political)

右便 (우편) — right side, convenience

佑護 (우호) — divine protection (shares root with 右)