左|ひだりhidari[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N5approx.Common
Definitions
  1. no-adjectiveleft; left-hand side
    そのポールは左ひだりに傾かたむいた。↗
    The pole inclined to the left.
  2. nounleft hand
  3. nounthe left (wing); leftist
    フランスは左ひだりに、イギリスは右みぎに揺ゆれているように思おもわれる。↗
    France seems to be swinging left - Britain to the right.
  4. nounfondness for alcohol; drinker
Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym左手ひだりてNeutralRefers to the left hand itself, and by extension the direction on your left, as in 「左手に見える」; often used when giving directions.
  • Synonym左側ひだりがわNeutralMeans the side that is left, focusing on the spatial area, as in 「左側通行」.
  • Related左翼さよくNeutralMeans the left wing or a left-side part, or the political left, as in 「左翼政党」; also used for left field in baseball.
  • Related左派さはNeutralRefers to the political left or reformists: a faction within a party, or people with left-wing views, as in 「左派の知識人」; it never indicates direction.
  • Related左方さほうWrittenWritten/formal prose for the left side; also a term in gagaku classification. In everyday speech say 「左」.
  • Antonym右みぎNeutralThe antonym of 「左」 in direction; means the right, right-hand side.

For plain direction, 「左」 is the default. Use 「左側」 for the left side as an area, 「左手」 for the hand or when giving directions, and 「左翼」 or 「左派」 for political stances; 「左方」 is formal prose.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 観測かんそく者しゃを中心ちゅうしんとした方向ほうこうの一ひとつ。東ひがしに向むかって北きたの方向ほうこう。
  2. 話し手はなしてや聞き手ききてなど視点してんとなる人ひとにとって、自分じぶんの左ひだり(語義ごぎ1)にあたる側がわ。また、その方向ほうこう。語義ごぎ1と紛まぎらわしい場合ばあいに「向むかって左ひだり」「誰々だれだれから見みて左ひだり」と言いうことがある。
  3. 酒さけが好すきなこと。左党さとう。
  4. 急進的きゅうしんてきな思想しそう、立場たちば。とくに、反動的はんどうてき・保守的ほしゅてき・伝統的でんとうてきな思想しそう、立場たちばと対比たいひするとき。左翼さよく、左派さは、革新派かくしんは、改革派かいかくは、極左きょくさ、左寄ひだりより。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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