1.
left hand
The hand on the left side of the body.
左手で字を書く。
I write with my left hand.
左手に荷物を持っている。
I'm holding the luggage in my left hand.
左手を怪我して、箸が使えない。
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.
まっすぐ行くと左手に銀行が見えます。
If you go straight ahead, you'll see a bank on the left.
READING NOTE:
左手 has two readings:
- ひだりて — left hand (physical hand) or left side (in directions)
- さしゅ — literary reading, rarely used in modern Japanese
CONTRAST:
- 左手 — left hand / left side
- 右手 — right hand / right side
For giving directions, 左手に means "on your left": 左手に見える (visible on the left).