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.
左翼政党が支持を集めている。
Left-wing parties are gaining support.
彼は左翼的な思想を持っている。
He holds left-wing views.
ヨーロッパでは左翼と右翼の対立が激しくなっている。
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.
左翼に打球が飛んだ。
The batted ball flew to left field.
彼は左翼手として活躍している。
He is active as a left fielder.
左翼フェンスを越えるホームランを打った。
He hit a home run that cleared the left field fence.
Literally 'left wing' (左 + 翼 '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:
- 左翼政党: left-wing political party
- 左翼的: left-leaning, leftist
- 左翼思想: left-wing ideology
- 左翼手: left fielder (baseball)
- 極左: far left, extreme left
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 右翼: right wing — the opposite term, both in politics and positionally
- 革新: progressive, reformist — a softer term for left-leaning politics
- レフト: left (field) — the baseball loanword, more casual than 左翼