左 Kanji – left
The Japanese kanji 左 can mean left.
Meaning and Readings
How is 左 read?
左 has the onyomi readings サ, シャ and the kunyomi reading ひだり.
In romaji, these readings can be written as sa, sha, hidari.
Common Japanese Words Using 左
These common Japanese words contain 左. Select linked kanji to explore their meanings and readings.
- 右往左往（うおうさおう） — moving about in confusion, going every which way, going this way and that
- 左（ひだり） — left, left-hand side
- 左右（さゆう） — left and right, right and left
- 左記（さき） — undermentioned (statement), the following, at left
- 左手（ひだりて） — left hand
- 左上（ひだりうえ） — upper left
- 左折（させつ） — turning to the left, left turn
- 左遷（させん） — demotion, relegation, reduction in rank, degradation, downward move
- 左前（ひだりまえ） — wearing a kimono with the right side over the left (normally used only for the dead)
- 左足（ひだりあし） — left foot