How to say "leftist" in Japanese

• ブサヨ
  nounDerogatory slang for a leftist or the left wing: it sneers rather than describes, so it belongs in contemptuous, mocking political talk, not neutral writing.
• 左翼系さよくけい
  no-adjectiveThe descriptive choice: it characterizes a person or group as left-leaning, left-wing in orientation, without the pejorative force of the slang terms.
• パヨク
  nounSlang for the left or an individual left-winger, derogatory yet jocular: it mocks the left with a flippant, joking edge, the kind of term heard in bantering or hostile political talk.
• レフティ
  nounA loanword from 'lefty'. In Japanese it is taken first of all to mean a left-handed person, so as a way to say 'leftist' it is rare and apt to confuse readers.

All four are uncommon choices: 左翼系 is the descriptive option for someone left-leaning, 「ブサヨ」 and 「パヨク」 are derogatory slang for the left, and 「レフティ」 usually means a left-handed person rather than a leftist.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ブサヨleftist
• 左翼系さよくけいleft-leaning
• パヨクthe left (wing)
• 左ひだりthe left (wing)
• レフティleftist