Japanese word

左

Pronunciation

Romajihidari

Meaning

  • nounleft

Example

左に曲がってください。hidari ni ma ga tte ku da sa i

Please turn left.

Illustration for 左 (left)

More examples

交差点で左を見てから渡ります。kō sa ten de hidari o mi te ka ra wata ri ma su

I look to the left at the intersection before crossing.

Core concept

Identifies the side or direction that lies opposite the right, relative to a person or object.

Common phrases

  • 左に曲がるhidari ni ma ga ru

    turn left

  • 左を見るhidari o mi ru

    look to the left

Similar words

左側hidarigawa: The side of a person or object that is opposite the right side.

Definition in Japanese

向いている方向を基準にして、右と反対に当たる側やその方向。mu i te i ru hō kō o ki jun ni shi te migi to han tai ni a ta ru gawa ya so no hō kō

Word origin

The Japanese native word 左 (hidari) has no securely established original derivation; it was later represented by the Chinese character 左 (sa, "left"), whose Sino-Japanese reading is sa.

Usage tips

  • In Japan, traffic keeps to the left, so 左 (hidari) appears often in road signs and driving directions.

Opposites

Word lists with this word