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(せん きゅうひゃく ななじゅう)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 TERMS:

  • 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
general
Added 2026.4.15 23:03
23500/23933_kyokusa