左さ右ゆう

noun

left and right; both sides

The ordinary spatial meaning: the left and right sides together. Common in directions, movement, and checking both sides.

• 道どう路ろを渡わたる前まえに左さ右ゆうを確かく認にんしてください。

  Please check left and right before crossing the road.

• 船ふねが左さ右ゆうに大おおきく揺ゆれた。

  The boat rocked greatly from side to side.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb

influence; control; determine

Most often used as 左右する, meaning to influence, control, or be a deciding factor in an outcome.

• 天てん候こうが試し合あいの結けっ果かを左さ右ゆうする。

  The weather will influence the outcome of the game.

• その一いっ票ぴょうが選せん挙きょの行方ゆくえを左さ右ゆうした。

  That one vote determined the course of the election.

noun

attendants; people at one's side; serving at someone's side

Rare and somewhat historical or literary. Refers to people accompanying or serving someone at their side, often in expressions such as 左右の者 or 左右に侍る.

• 王おうは左さ右ゆうの者ものに静しずかに命めいじた。

  The king quietly gave orders to the attendants at his side.

• 殿とのの左さ右ゆうに侍はべる家か臣しんたちが頭あたまを下さげた。

  The retainers serving at their lord's side bowed their heads.

noun

equivocation; evasive speech

Rare as a standalone noun; mainly encountered in the fixed expression 言を左右にする, meaning to avoid giving a clear answer or to equivocate.

• 彼かれは言げんを左さ右ゆうにして、最さい後ごまで責せき任にんを認みとめなかった。

  He equivocated and never admitted responsibility.