左（ひだり、hidari）
- left

The Japanese word 左 左 (hidari) primarily means "left" in the sense of the direction opposite of "right". It refers to the side of something that is toward the west when facing north or the opposite of the right side of a person or object. It can also describe the left-hand side or anything positioned on that side. The word can be used both as a noun and as a descriptor.

⚫︎左に行きます。 Translation: I'll go to the left. ⚫︎左手を使ってください。 Translation: Please use your left hand. ⚫︎その店は左側にあります。 Translation: That shop is on the left.

You use 左 (hidari) to indicate the left side, the direction to the left, or something located on the left. ⚫︎It's important to understand 左's use in directions: when giving instructions, you would use 左 to tell someone to turn or go in that direction. ⚫︎It's also essential when describing the location of objects or parts of the body. For example, your 左 hand (左手) is your left hand. ⚫︎You can also use 左 to refer to the political left.

左 is typically written with the kanji 左. The reading in hiragana is ひだり. There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana is not applicable in this case.

There aren't many direct synonyms for 左 in Japanese because it's a directional term. However, words that indicate position or direction could be considered related.

The antonym of 左 is 右 (migi), which means "right".

道《左側にレストランがあります。》 ・Translation: There's a restaurant on the left side of the road. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 左 to indicate the location of the restaurant relative to the road.

私は《左利きです。》 ・Translation: I am left-handed. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 左 to describe a person's handedness.

The kanji 左 is a pictograph. It depicts a hand, particularly the left hand. Its shape suggests the idea of "left."