left-hand

/ˈleft hænd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈleft hænd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈleft-ˈhand ˈlef-ˈtand/ (ame, mw)

left-hand — adjective

1. in a position to the left side, when you look at something from the front; descr

1.形容詞B1
釋義

in a position to the left side, when you look at something from the front; describes the part, side, or area that is opposite the right.

例句

Defne keeps her car keys in the left-hand drawer of the kitchen table.

attributive: left-hand + noun (drawer)

The bakery sits on the left-hand side of the street, just past the post office.

collocation: left-hand side

同義詞
  • left

    more general; can be used predicatively ('the door on the left')

  • leftward

    describes direction of movement rather than a fixed position

反義詞
  • right-hand

    the mirror opposite — used in the same fixed phrases

文法句型

left-hand + noun

用法筆記

Attributive only — placed before a noun. Cannot follow 'be' (say 'the drawer on the left', not '*the drawer is left-hand'). Most common in fixed phrases: left-hand side, left-hand corner, left-hand column, left-hand drawer.

常見錯誤

❌The drawer is left-hand.
✅The drawer on the left is empty.
💡'left-hand' cannot stand after 'be'; use 'on the left' instead.
❌Turn at the left-hand.
✅Turn at the left-hand corner.
💡'left-hand' needs a noun after it; it is not a noun by itself.

2. designed to be held, used, or played with the left hand, especially of tools, in

2.形容詞B1
釋義

designed to be held, used, or played with the left hand, especially of tools, instruments, or sports equipment.

例句

Ryo bought a left-hand glove for his younger brother, who throws with his left arm.

attributive use: left-hand + sports equipment

Anjali ordered a left-hand guitar online because the music shop did not stock one.

collocation: left-hand guitar

同義詞
  • southpaw

    informal; mainly used in sports (boxing, baseball) to describe a left-handed player or their equipment

  • sinistral

    formal / technical; used in anatomy and biology rather than everyday speech

反義詞

文法句型

left-hand + noun

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense refers to objects MADE for left-handed people, not to position. Common collocations: left-hand guitar, left-hand glove, left-hand scissors, left-hand mouse. Many speakers prefer 'left-handed' for this meaning ('a left-handed glove'); 'left-hand' is the shorter compound form used by manufacturers and retailers.

常見錯誤

❌Sofie is a left-hand player.
✅Sofie is a left-handed player.
💡describe the person with 'left-handed'; reserve 'left-hand' for the object they use.