左边

• Pinyin: zuǒ bian
• Hanzi breakdown: 左 = left; 边 = 辶 (movement) + 力 (strength) — side, edge

Meaning

Left side; the left. Indicates the area or direction to the left.

A location word combining 左 (left) + 边 (side). Used to describe position: 在左边 (on the left side). More natural in spoken Chinese than 左 alone when indicating location. Commonly used with 的: 左边的那个 (the one on the left).

Examples

1. 银行在超市的左边。 The bank is to the left of the supermarket.
2. 请坐在我左边。 Please sit on my left.
3. 左边那个是我的。 The one on the left is mine.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, location, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 厕所在左边。(The toilet is on the left.)
• 请看左边的图片。(Please look at the picture on the left.)

Don't Say

• 在我的左边边。(Don't double 边 — say 在我的左边)

Origin & History

Compound of 左 (left) + 边 (side/edge). A natural combination forming a location word.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal