左
left
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of 'ナ' (hand) and '工' (tool). Hand holding tools - the left hand.
Symbolism
Assistance, unorthodox, creativity. Special meaning of left in right-handed society.
Words & Expressions
Words written with 左
Four-Character Compounds
右往左往
うおうさおう
moving about in confusion; going every which way; going this way and that
右顧左眄
うこさべん
inability to make up one's mind due to worrying about how others will think; hesitation; wavering
左顧右眄
さこうべん
looking right and left or all about; vacillation
左見右見
とみこうみ
looking from one place to another; looking in all directions; looking all around
Proverbs & Idioms
左右を見る
さゆうをみる
To look left and right
Checking the surroundings carefully
Related Figures & Stories
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Chikamatsu Monzaemon , real name Sugimori Nobumori , was a Japanese dramatist of jōruri, the form of puppet theater that later came to be known as…
Wikipedia原田左之助
Name contains 左
Harada Sanosuke was a Japanese warrior who lived in the late Edo period.
Wikipedia橋本左内
Name contains 左
Sanai Hashimoto was a Japanese samurai and loyal supporter of the Emperor during the final days of the Tokugawa regime.
Wikipedia伊藤左千夫
Name contains 左
Itō Sachio was the pen-name of Itō Kōjirō , a Japanese tanka poet and novelist active during the Meiji period of Japan.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 左 mean in Japanese?
左 means left.
How do you read 左?
On'yomi: サ、シャ (SA, SHA). Kun'yomi: ひだり (hidari).
How many strokes does 左 have?
左 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 工 (work).
Is 左 a good kanji for a tattoo?
左 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means left. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:left