L33. [Day 33] 右 - right
Days 31-40
R-report
[Day 33] 右 - right
The character 右 means “right” (direction). It dates to pictographic/ideographic origins that contrast the right side with the left and is used in everyday directions, body-part words, and traffic or political vocabulary. Readings: On'yomi and Kun'yomi are used differently — On'yomi appears in some compound words, and Kun'yomi is the everyday native word for ‘right’. Mnemonic tip: think of a small mark above a box pointing to the box’s right side — the character points you to the right. Readings: On'yomi and Kun'yomi with example compounds — On'yomi: ウ (used in compounds like 右翼 / うよく / uyoku — “right wing”); Kun'yomi: みぎ (basic word 右 / みぎ / migi — “right”; also 右手 / みぎて / migite — “right hand”).
Readings
On'yomi: **ウ** (u) Kun'yomi: **みぎ** (migi)
Related words
- 右（みぎ / migi） — right. - 交差点で**右**に曲がってください。 (Kōsaten de **migi** ni magatte kudasai. — Please turn right at the intersection.)
- 右手（みぎて / migite） — right hand. - 彼はペンを**右手**で持っている。 (Kare wa pen o **migite** de motte iru. — He holds the pen with his right hand.)
- 右側（みぎがわ / migigawa） — right side. - 建物の**右側**に駐車場があります。 (Tatemono no **migigawa** ni chūshajō ga arimasu. — There is a parking lot on the building's right side.)
- 右翼（うよく / uyoku） — (the) right wing (political). - 新聞は右翼の動きについて記事を書いた。 (Shinbun wa **uyoku** no ugoki ni tsuite kiji o kaita. — The paper wrote an article about right-wing movements.)
- 右折（うせつ / usetsu） — right turn (traffic term). - 次の角で**右折**すると駅に着きます。 (Tsugi no kado de **usetsu** suru to eki ni tsukimasu. — If you turn right at the next corner you'll reach the station.)