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noun HSK 2
Traditional 左邊
zuǒ biān
left side · the left

Meaning

左边 refers to the left side or left-hand direction relative to a reference point. It's one of the most basic directional words in Chinese, combining 左 (left) with 边 (side). This word is essential for giving and understanding directions in everyday conversation.

Usage

Used frequently in daily life when giving directions, describing locations, or indicating positions. It can be used both as a standalone noun (在左边 'on the left') or with 的 to modify another noun (左边的房间 'the room on the left'). Native speakers commonly pair it with location words like 在 or verbs of motion.

Examples

  1. 01
    银行在邮局的左边。
    Yínháng zài yóujú de zuǒ biān.
    The bank is on the left side of the post office.
  2. 02
    你看左边那个穿红色衣服的人。
    Nǐ kàn zuǒ biān nàge chuān hóngsè yīfu de rén.
    Look at that person wearing red clothes on the left.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 在左边
    zài zuǒ biān
    on the left
  • 往左边走
    wǎng zuǒ biān zǒu
    go to the left
  • 左边第一个
    zuǒ biān dì yī gè
    the first one on the left
  • 左边的
    zuǒ biān de
    the one on the left

Antonyms

Origin

左 originally depicted a left hand in oracle bone script, while 边 combines the 'walk' radical with a phonetic component, suggesting the edge or side of a path.

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