左手(ひだりて)

ひだりて
noun
left hand; left side
1. left hand
The hand on the left side of the body.
左手(ひだりて)で字(じ)を書(か)く。
I write with my left hand.
左手(ひだりて)に荷物(にもつ)を持(も)っている。
I'm holding the luggage in my left hand.
左手(ひだりて)を怪我(けが)して、箸(はし)が使(つか)えない。
I injured my left hand and can't use chopsticks.
2. left side, left-hand side
The left side when giving directions or describing locations.
まっすぐ行(い)くと左手(ひだりて)に銀行(ぎんこう)が見(み)えます。
If you go straight ahead, you'll see a bank on the left.

左手(ひだりて) means both "left hand" (the body part) and "left side" (when giving directions). The meaning is usually clear from context.

DIRECTION USAGE:

When giving directions, 左手(ひだりて)に means "on your left":

  • 左手(ひだりて)に見(み)える: visible on the left
  • 左手(ひだりて)にある: located on the left

This is a polite, natural way to give directions.

CONTRAST:

  • 左手(ひだりて): left hand / left side
  • 右手(みぎて): right hand / right side

READING NOTE:
The literary reading さしゅ exists but is rarely used in modern Japanese.

RELATED WORDS:

  • 左利(ひだりき)き: left-handed
  • 左側(ひだりがわ): left side (more neutral than 左手(ひだりて) for directions)
  • 左(ひだり): left (general direction word)
general
Added 2026.2.12 8:06 · Revised 2026.3.30 12:38
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