Japanese word

左利き

Pronunciation

Romajihidarikiki

Meaning

  • nounleft-handed person

Example

兄は左利きです。ani wa hidari ki ki de su

My older brother is left-handed.

Illustration for 左利き (left-handed person)

More examples

このはさみは左利きの人にも使いやすいです。ko no ha sa mi wa hidari ki ki no hito ni mo tsuka i ya su i de su

These scissors are also easy for left-handed people to use.

Core concept

Centers on a person who relies on the left hand rather than the right for skilled, familiar actions.

Common phrases

  • 左利きの人hidari ki ki no hito

    left-handed person

  • 左利きの選手hidari ki ki no sen shu

    left-handed player

Similar words

サウスポーsausupō: A player who uses the left hand for important actions in a sport.

Definition in Japanese

右手より左手を利き手として、書くなどの動作を行う人。migi te yo ri hidari te o ki ki te to shi te ka ku na do no dō sa o okona u hito

Word origin

The compound 左利き (hidarikiki) joins 左 (hidari, "left") and 利き (kiki, "the preferred or more capable side"), a noun element related to 利く (kiku, "to function effectively").

Usage tips

  • A person can be 左利き (hidarikiki) even when a particular skill is performed with the right hand, because the term describes general handedness rather than every action.

Other meanings

  • left-handednessnoun

Opposites

  • 右利きmigikikiright-handed personnoun

Word lists with this word