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左 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
左zuǒsurname ZuoHSK 2, m, 5 strokes, radical 工, rank #1545, Easy
左zuǒleftHSK 2, m, 5 strokes, radical 工, rank #1545, Easy
左zuǒthe Left (politics)HSK 2, m, 5 strokes, radical 工, rank #1545, Easy
左zuǒeastHSK 2, m, 5 strokes, radical 工, rank #1545, Easy
左zuǒunorthodoxHSK 2, m, 5 strokes, radical 工, rank #1545, Easy
左zuǒqueerHSK 2, m, 5 strokes, radical 工, rank #1545, Easy
左zuǒwrongHSK 2, m, 5 strokes, radical 工, rank #1545, Easy
左zuǒdifferingHSK 2, m, 5 strokes, radical 工, rank #1545, Easy
左zuǒoppositeHSK 2, m, 5 strokes, radical 工, rank #1545, Easy
左zuǒleft; unorthodox, improperHSK 2, m, 5 strokes, radical 工, rank #1545, Easy
zuǒ(zuo3) T3
  1. 1left
  2. 2the Left (politics)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
左zuǒ(zuo3)

The character 左 (zuǒ) primarily means 'left' in terms of direction, but it also has broader applications such as indicating something unorthodox or improper. In political contexts, it can refer to leftist ideologies. It's commonly used in everyday language, navigation, and to describe political affiliations.

Strokes5Radical工Frequency#1545DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of left and right can have deeper meanings, including traditional beliefs about directions corresponding to good and bad fortune. The left side is sometimes associated with the feminine and the east, where the sun rises, making it a symbol of beginnings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person using their left hand to draw a big 'Z' in the air, symbolizing 'zuǒ'. The left hand resembles the character's shape, and 'Z' can remind you of its pronunciation. Picture this person as a leftist artist, expressing their unique, unorthodox views.

Meanings of 左

zuǒ(zuo3)
1left
2the Left (politics)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 左

左Simplified
5Strokes
工Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#1545Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 左

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Podcast: 左

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AI Study Notes for 左

Quick Contrast

右 (yòu) - use 左 (zuǒ) when referring to the left direction or side, as opposed to 右 (yòu) which indicates the right.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person using their left hand to draw a big 'Z' in the air, symbolizing 'zuǒ'. The left hand resembles the character's shape, and 'Z' can remind you of its pronunciation. Picture this person as a leftist artist, expressing their unique, unorthodox views.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 左 (zuǒ) with 右 (yòu), which means 'right'. In informal contexts, left can also imply being different or queer, so be mindful of the context to avoid misunderstandings. Remember, '左' is always used in a directional sense, not metaphorically without context.

HSK Study Tips

While 左 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it is essential for HSK 1 students to learn basic directional words. Focus on its pronunciation and how it pairs with other directional terms like 右 (yòu) for a comprehensive understanding of spatial orientation.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of left and right can have deeper meanings, including traditional beliefs about directions corresponding to good and bad fortune. The left side is sometimes associated with the feminine and the east, where the sun rises, making it a symbol of beginnings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 左 (zuǒ) with 右 (yòu), leading to incorrect directional references, such as saying 'go to the right' when they mean 'go to the left.' Always remember: 左 means 'left' and 右 means 'right.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 左

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Etymology of 左

Formation TypePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation

Pictograph of a left hand. The 工 (work) component was added later to represent the meaning "help; assist", now written as 佐.

Memory Hint

A left hand; compare 又

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 左?

Decomposition of 左

IDS Structure⿸？工
左Full Character
=
工gong1
enclosing
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 左?

Write 左

左

Practice writing 左 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 左

左 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 10 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

洗手间在____边。

The restroom is on the left.

Example Sentences for 左 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
将出现极左或极右的情况。

jiāng chū xiàn jí zuǒ huò jí yòu de qíng kuàng。

There will be a radical swing to the right or the left.
2
你可以上下左右移动摄像机。

nǐ kě yǐ shàng xià zuǒ yòu yí dòng shè xiàng jī。

You can move the camera both vertically and horizontally.
3
12英寸左右的宽度绝对是你应考虑的最低值。

12 12 yīng cùn zuǒ yòu de kuān dù jué duì shì nǐ yīng kǎo lǜ de zuì dī。

About 12 inches wide is the absolute minimum you should consider.
4
这艘船的注册编号刻在前舱的左舷上。

zhè sōu chuán de zhù cè biān hào kè zài qián cāng de zuǒ xián shàng。

Her official number is carved on the port side of the forecabin.
5
我侧一步要躲闪的时候，瓶子打中了我的左髋部。

wǒ cè yī bù yào duǒ shǎn de shí hòu， ， píng zǐ dǎ zhōng le wǒ de zuǒ kuān。

As I sidestepped, the bottle hit me on the left hip.
6
一群骨干右翼参议员曾企图左右自己的同僚。

yī qún gǔ gān yòu yì cān yì yuán zēng qǐ tú zuǒ yòu zì jǐ de tóng liáo。

A hard-core group of right-wing senators had hoped to sway their colleagues.
7
他熟练地左一拐右一拐地绕过深沟，穿过了原野。

tā shú liàn dì zuǒ yī guǎi yòu yī guǎi dì rào guò shēn gōu， ， chuān guò le yuán。

Expertly he zigzagged his way across the field, avoiding the deeper gullies.
8
他的政治观点遭到左派的抨击。

tā de zhèng zhì guān diǎn zāo dào zuǒ pài de pēng jī。

His political opinions have attracted the opprobrium of the Left.
9
她在他粗糙的面颊上左右各吻了一下。

tā zài tā cū cāo de miàn jiá shàng zuǒ yòu gè wěn le yī xià。

She planted a kiss on each of his leathery cheeks.
10
罗布在做医生还是当运动员之间痛苦抉择，左右为难。

luó bù zài zuò yī shēng huán shì dāng yùn dòng yuán zhī jiān tòng kǔ jué zé， ， zuǒ yòu wéi。

Robb is torn between becoming a doctor and a career in athletics.

Cultural Notes for 左

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of left and right can have deeper meanings, including traditional beliefs about directions corresponding to good and bad fortune. The left side is sometimes associated with the feminine and the east, where the sun rises, making it a symbol of beginnings.

Word Family of 左

Compounds11
佐zuo3to assist, to aid; subordinate, second
惰duo4lazy
隋Sui2the Sui dynasty; surname
咗
媠tuo3beautiful
堶
楕
袏
遀sui2to walk
鬌
鰖
Words Containing This Character17
左右zuǒyòunearby
左zuǒleft
左边zuǒbianleft左邊
左手left hand
左侧left side左側
左撇子left-handed
左翼left-wing (political)
左轮手枪revolver左輪手槍
左右手left and right hands
左面left side
左派left wing
相左to fail to meet each other
左下lower left
左转to turn left左轉
左顾右盼zuǒgùyòupànglancing to left and right (idiom); to look all around左顧右盼
左倾left-leaning左傾
左传Zuo Zhuan or Tsochuan, Mr Zuo's Annals or Mr Zuo's commentary on 春秋[Chūn​qiū], early history c. 400 BC attributed to famous blind historian Zuo Qiuming 左丘明[Zuǒ​Qiū​míng]左傳
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 佐 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 左

It is pronounced as 'zuǒ' with a falling-rising tone.