左
left; east; progressive; wrong
Meanings
8 senses · 20 examplesnoun
left side (when facing south)
Basic directional term, most common usage of the character.
My left side is a big poplar tree.
Please hold the pen with your left hand.
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When driving, pay attention to pedestrians when making a left turn.
The library is on the left side of the school.
He is standing in the spot to my left.
noun
east (specifically Taihang Mountains east)
literaryLiterary and historical usage, refers to eastern regions.
Ancient documents often mention the 'Shan Zuo' region.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Shan Zuo mostly referred to Shandong Province.
adjective
eccentric; deviant; crooked
Used to describe people's personalities or behaviors that are not conventional.
He has a weird temper and a very eccentric personality.
Don't take crooked paths, take the right way.
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His ideas are too deviant and do not match reality.
adjective
wrong; incorrect
Commonly used in spoken and written Chinese to describe mistakes in thoughts or statements.
You got the wrong idea, this is not what you thought.
I made a mistake, it should be in the afternoon not the morning.
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He miscalculated the bill and overcharged the customer.
adjective
contradictory; opposite
Used to describe conflicting opinions or positions.
Our opinions are contradictory and we cannot reach an agreement.
Their positions are opposite, and they argue endlessly.
adjective
progressive; revolutionary
formalPolitical term commonly used in modern Chinese to refer to progressive or left-wing groups.
He is a leftist who holds a positive attitude towards reform.
Left-wing writers pay attention to the lives of ordinary people.
verb
to assist; to help
archaicArchaic usage, now rarely used except in ancient texts.
Ancient texts often have the term 'zuo wang', meaning to assist the monarch.
noun
surname Zuo
Common Chinese family name.
Teacher Zuo is our Chinese teacher.
The Zuo family has a smart child.