左 Kanji: Meaning, Readings and Stroke Order

左: left; left side. JLPT N5; 5 strokes.

Readings

On readings

サ

Kun readings

ひだり

Romaji

sa, hidari

Study notes

左 means 'left'.

On reading: サ in 左折 (させつ, turn left), 左右 (さゆう, left and right), 左翼 (さよく, left wing; political left), 左派 (さは, political left).

Kun reading: ひだり, 'left': 左手 (ひだりて, left hand), 左側 (ひだりがわ, left side), 左利き (ひだりきき, left-handed).

Remember: 左 and 右 resemble each other: 左 has 工 at the bottom, 右 has 口 at the bottom. In Japan people drive on the left side of the road: 左側通行 (ひだりがわつうこう).

Example words

• 左手 (ひだりて) — left hand
• 左折 (させつ) — left turn
• 左 (ひだり) — left

Example sentences

左を見てください。

hidari wo mite kudasai.

Please look to the left.

Stroke order

Follow the steps in order. Each new stroke is highlighted.

Stroke paths: KanjiVG, CC BY-SA 3.0. Sequential diagrams derived from the original paths.