zuǒtǎn

左袒

Word · Verb

show partiality; take sides

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 3 examples
1.

verb

to show partiality to one side; to take sides with; to favor one party

archaic

This term originates from a historical incident recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian (《史记·吕太后本纪》). After the death of Emperor Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang), Empress Lü seized power and promoted her own clan. After her death, Grand Commandant Zhou Bo seized military control and asked the troops to bare their right arm to support the Lü clan or their left arm to support the Liu clan. All soldiers bared their left arm, showing support for the Liu clan. Thus, 'left baring' (左袒) came to mean showing partiality to one side.

Zuò作
wéi为
cái裁
pàn判
 ，
tā他
bù不
yìng应
gāi该
zuǒ左
tǎn袒
rèn任
hé何
yī一
fāng方
 。

As a referee, he should not show partiality to either side.

Zhè这
wèi位
fǎ法
guān官
gōng公
zhèng正
yán严
míng明
 ，
cóng从
bù不
zuǒ左
tǎn袒
quán权
guì贵
 。

This judge is fair and strict, never favoring the powerful and wealthy.

Show 1 more example
Chǔ处
lǐ理
guó国
jì际
zhēng争
duān端
shí时
 ，
dà大
guó国
bù不
yīng应
zuǒ左
tǎn袒
zì自
jǐ己
de的
méng盟
yǒu友
 。

When handling international disputes, major powers should not take sides with their own allies.