← Kanji module
N5 · 5 strokes · — · Irodori #152 · Elementary 1 L6
左
left
Stroke diagrams © KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Readings
- On’yomi
- サ、シャ
- Kun’yomi
- ひだり
Example words
左
ひだり
left; left-hand side
左
さ
left (esp. in vertical Japanese writing); the following
左右
さゆう
left and right; right and left
左利き
ひだりきき
left-handedness; left-handed person
Memory aids
Guided learn session →How to remember
Shape
Left hand (ナ) + craft (工) — the left hand assists with work.
Components
Remember "left" (左) by connecting it to its Irodori vocabulary context.
Anchor word
左 (ひだり) — your first meeting with this kanji in Irodori.
Readings
First learned in 左 (ひだり) — recall the word to unlock the reading. Kun'yomi: ひだり — often used in native Japanese words (like 左). On'yomi: サ、シャ — common in compound words (熟語).