SA SHA hidari (left)

ASCII Art Representation:

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Character Etymology:

At the top, the radical representing the left hand. Below that, the radical representing, "to work upon." Rather like the right hand (see: KANJI: 700 YUU U migi), the left hand also symbolized support, but with connotations of reserve or auxiliary as opposed to the strength of the right. This, the original meaning of this character was something like, "to assist someone at work," which is still found in Chinese.

In Japanese, this early meaning was taken over by adding the radical for person (see: KANJI: 1 ICHI ITSU hito), giving assist; while this character came to mean only, "left hand," or, "the left."

A Listing of All On-Yomi and Kun-Yomi Readings:

on-yomi: SA SHA
kun-yomi: hidari

Nanori Readings:

Nanori: so

English Definitions:

1. SA: left, the following.
2. hidari: left; the left; leftist.
3. hidari suru: turn to the left.

Unicode Encoded Version:

左

Unicode Encoded Compound Examples:

左回り (hidarimawa(ri)): counterclockwise.
左手 (hidarite): left hand.
左派 (saha): leftist faction.

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