ε·¦
Left
γ²γ γ (hidari)
JLPT N5
Interesting Fact
Why Cars in Japan drive on the left side of the road, even though Japan was never colonized by British? One theory traces this custom back to the samurai era, when keeping left reduced the chance of sword scabbards colliding as warriors passed each other. In samurai culture, bumping swords was a massive insult and could instantly trigger a bloody, fatal duel!
Memory Trick
"Work first, talk later." Kanji for Left (ε·¦) contains ε·₯ (work). Kanji for Right (ε³) contains ε£ (mouth). Since work comes before talk, the kanji with ε·₯ is left and kanji with ε£ is Right.
Readings
Onyomi: γ΅ (sa)
Kunyomi: γ²γ γ (hidari)
Example Words
ε·¦
γ²γ γ (hidari)
Left
ε·¦ζ
γ²γ γγ¦ (hidarite)
Left hand
ε·¦ε΄
γ²γ γγγ (hidarigawa)
Left side
ε·¦ε³
γγγ (sayuu)
Left and right
Example Sentence
ι§ γ―ε·¦γ«γγγΎγγ
γγ γ― γ²γ γ γ« γγγΎγγ
eki wa hidari ni arimasu
The station is on the left.