ChiramiN5 kanji · 5 strokes
左 means left
ナ a hand · 工 a tool
左Memory trick
A hand (ナ) holding a tool (工): left, the helping hand.
Memory trick: a picture to help you remember the kanji, not its history.
Meaning and readings
- Meaning
- left
- JLPT level
- N5
- Strokes
- 5
- School grade
- Grade 1 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) ひだり hidari
ひだり (hidari) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
From Chinese (onyomi) サ sa
サ (sa) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Other readings from Chinese: シャ sha
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
左利き ひだりきき · hidarikiki
left-handedness, left-handed person
Built from
- 一 one
- 丿 a sweeping stroke
- 工 tool, craft
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
工 Used in 20 kanji
See all 3 at N5 and N4Quick check
What does 左 mean?
Right: 左 means left.Not quite: 左 means left.In 左利き, which reading does 左 use?
Right. 左利き is read ひだりきき (hidarikiki): 左 takes ひだり, its Japanese reading.Not quite. 左利き is read ひだりきき (hidarikiki): 左 takes ひだり, its Japanese reading.