極 左(きょくさ)

きょくさ

noun

far left; extreme left wing

1. far left; extreme left wing (in politics)

A political label for the extreme left end of the ideological spectrum — groups, parties, or individuals associated with radical socialism, revolutionary communism, or militant leftist activism. Common in news coverage and political commentary.

極左(きょくさ)集団(しゅうだん)が逮捕(たいほ)された。

A far-left group was arrested.

その雑誌(ざっし)は極左(きょくさ)寄(よ)りの論調(ろんちょう)で知(し)られている。

That magazine is known for its far-left editorial stance.

1970年代(ねんだい)には極左(きょくさ)の過激派(かげきは)による事件(じけん)がたびたび起(お)きた。

In the 1970s, incidents caused by far-left radicals occurred repeatedly.

Literally "extreme left," from 極(きょく) (extreme, pole) and 左(さ) (left). In Japanese post-war history, the word is strongly associated with the radical student movements and urban guerrilla groups of the 1960s and 1970s. Like its counterpart 極右(きょくう), it is usually applied critically rather than used as a self-description.

Common collocations

極左(きょくさ)勢力(せいりょく): far-left forces
極左(きょくさ)集団(しゅうだん): a far-left group
極左(きょくさ)暴力(ぼうりょく)集団(しゅうだん): far-left violent group (an official police designation)
極左(きょくさ)思想(しそう): far-left ideology
極左(きょくさ)寄(よ)り: leaning far-left

Related words

極右(きょくう): far right — direct antonym
左翼(さよく): left wing — broader term for the entire left of the spectrum
革新(かくしん): progressive, reformist — the mainstream left
過激派(かげきは): radical faction, extremist — often overlaps with 極左(きょくさ) in Japanese usage

Related Words

Antonym: 極右(きょくう) (far right)

Related: 左翼(さよく) (left wing)

Related: 革新(かくしん) (progressive, reformist)

Related: 過激派(かげきは) (radical faction, extremist)

general

Added 2026.4.15 23:03 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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