左翼(さよく)

さよく
noun
left wing (politics); left field (baseball)
politicssports
1. left wing (politics); the political left
Political positions or groups that advocate for social equality, progressive reform, or socialism. Can refer to individuals, parties, or ideological positions.
左翼(さよく)政党(せいとう)が支持(しじ)を集(あつ)めている。
Left-wing parties are gaining support.
彼(かれ)は左翼的(さよくてき)な思想(しそう)を持(も)っている。
He holds left-wing views.
ヨーロッパでは左翼(さよく)と右翼(うよく)の対立(たいりつ)が激(はげ)しくなっている。
In Europe, the conflict between the left and right wings is intensifying.
2. left field (baseball); left flank (military)
The left side of a formation — the left field position in baseball, or the left flank in military formations.
左翼(さよく)に打球(だきゅう)が飛(と)んだ。
The batted ball flew to left field.
彼(かれ)は左翼手(さよくしゅ)として活躍(かつやく)している。
He is active as a left fielder.
左翼(さよく)フェンスを越(こ)えるホームランを打(う)った。
He hit a home run that cleared the left field fence.

Literally 'left wing' (左(ひだり) + 翼(つばさ) 'wing'). The political sense originates from the French Revolution, where supporters of change sat on the left side of the assembly. In Japanese, the political sense is the most common usage, but the baseball sense is also frequently encountered.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 右翼(うよく): right wing — the opposite term, both in politics and positionally
  • 革新(かくしん): progressive, reformist — a softer term for left-leaning politics
  • レフト: left (field) — the baseball loanword, more casual than 左翼(さよく)

Related Words

Antonym: 右翼(うよく) (right wing)
Compare: 革新(かくしん) (progressive, reformist)
Related: 極左(きょくさ) (far left)
general
Added 2026.4.7 23:15 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
22500/22746_sayoku