ひだり
hidarieveryday
In hiragana, "left" is ひだり (hidari). To say "the left side" you add がわ (gawa) and get ひだりがわ (hidarigawa).
Meaning: the left side or direction (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ひだり | hidari | everyday |
| ひだりがわ | hidarigawa | left side |
For directions say ひだりに まがる (hidari ni magaru), "turn left", or ひだりです (hidari desu), "it is on the left".
What does it mean word for word?
ひだり (hidari) is 左 in kanji. The opposite is みぎ (migi), 右, "right".
How does it change in a sentence?
Add て (te) for "hand": ひだりて (hidarite) is the left hand. Add あし (ashi) for the left foot: ひだりあし (hidariashi).
When do people say it?
Cars in Japan drive on the left side of the road, so ひだりがわ つうこう (hidarigawa tsūkō) is a common traffic phrase.
Did you know?
- Japan drives on the left, which is why directions with ひだり (hidari) come up often for visitors who rent a car.
Examples in context
- つぎの かどを ひだりに まがってください。Tsugi no kado o hidari ni magatte kudasai.Please turn left at the next corner.
- えきは ひだりがわです。Eki wa hidarigawa desu.The station is on the left side.
- ひだりてで かく。Hidarite de kaku.I write with my left hand.
Example conversation
A tourist named Anna asks a passerby named Mr. Endo for the way to the post office.
- Annaすみません、ゆうびんきょくは どこですか。Sumimasen, yūbinkyoku wa doko desu ka.Excuse me, where is the post office?
- Mr. Endoひだりに まがって、まっすぐです。Hidari ni magatte, massugu desu.Turn left and go straight.
- Annaありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you.
