left
/left/ (bre, ipa) · [lˈɛft] /left/ (ame, ipa) · [lˈɛft] /ˈleft/ (ame, mw)
left — 形容詞
- leftpositive
- leftercomparative
- leftestsuperlative
1. Located on the side of your body where the heart is, used to describe a position
左邊的
位於身體左側或朝左的方向
Located on the side of your body where the heart is, used to describe a position, body part, or direction that is opposite to right.
Karim writes with his left hand because he is left-handed.
Karim 用左手寫字，因為他是左撇子。
left + hand/arm/leg for body-part collocation
The post office is the second building on your left.
郵局是你左邊的第二棟建築物。
on your left — fixed directional phrase
Eli broke his left ankle while playing football last weekend.
Eli 上週末踢足球時摔斷了左腳踝。
Take a left turn at the traffic lights after the bridge.
在橋後的紅綠燈處左轉。
Beatrix wears her watch on her left wrist.
Beatrix 把手錶戴在左手腕上。
- right
The opposite side; on or toward the east when facing north
文法句型
left + noun (body part/object/direction)
用法筆記
Usually appears immediately before the noun it describes. The opposite is 'right'. When giving directions, 'on your left' is a fixed phrase that does not need an article.
常見錯誤
2. Supporting or relating to political ideas that favour greater social and economi
左派的
支持社會財富公平分配的政治立場
Supporting or relating to political ideas that favour greater social and economic equality, with more government involvement in public services and wealth distribution.
The newspaper has a strong left political viewpoint on economic issues.
這家報紙在經濟議題上有強烈的左派政治觀點。
left + viewpoint/party/policy (political collocation)
Reema voted for a left candidate in the local elections.
Reema 在地方選舉中投票給了一位左派候選人。
Left parties usually propose higher taxes on the wealthiest citizens.
左派政黨通常主張對最富有的公民課徵較高的稅。
The university student union is known for its left political ideas.
這所大學的學生會以其左派政治理念聞名。
Bao comes from a family with strong left political beliefs.
Bao 來自一個具有強烈左派政治信仰的家庭。
- left-wing
Exactly equivalent; 'left-wing' is more common in modern journalism and everyday speech
- progressive
Broader term that includes left ideas but also emphasises gradual social reform
- liberal
In some contexts overlaps with left, but liberals typically favour individual freedoms more than collective ownership; usage differs between the US and Europe
- right-wing
Supports free-market capitalism, traditional values, and less government intervention
- conservative
Generally opposes rapid social change and favours established institutions
文法句型
left + noun (party/movement/idea)
用法筆記
Can be capitalised when it is part of an official party name (e.g. 'the Left Party'). The opposite political alignment is 'right-wing' or 'conservative'. This sense is less common in everyday conversation about personal belongings or directions.
常見錯誤
left — 名詞
1. The side, direction, or area that is on the left side of your body, opposite of
左邊
左側的方向或位置
The side, direction, or area that is on the left side of your body, opposite of the right.
Look to your left and you will see the museum entrance.
往你的左邊看，你就會看到博物館入口。
to your left / on your left — fixed directional phrases
The blue car parked on the left belongs to the new teacher.
停在左邊的藍色車子是新老師的。
Rachid sat on my left during the three-hour concert.
Rachid 在三小時的音樂會中坐在我的左邊。
There is a small door on the left of the main entrance.
正門左邊有一扇小門。
Jenna tapped Vinícius on the left of his shoulder to get his attention.
Jenna 輕拍了 Vinícius 的左肩以引起他的注意。
- left-hand side
More emphatic; used when you want to be very clear about which side is meant
- right
The corresponding opposite side or direction
文法句型
the left
on/to/from your left
the left of something
用法筆記
Often appears in fixed phrases without a determiner, such as 'on your left' or 'to the left'. When specifying a location relative to an object, use 'the left of' ('to the left of the house').
常見錯誤
2. Political parties, groups, and voters that support social equality, public owner
左派
主張社會平等的集體政治力量
Political parties, groups, and voters that support social equality, public ownership, and greater government involvement in the economy.
The left won a clear majority in the national election.
左派在全國大選中贏得了明顯的多數席次。
the left (singular noun with definite article for political grouping)
Many young voters in the country have moved towards the left.
這個國家的許多年輕選民逐漸轉向左派。
The left and the right disagree deeply on tax reform.
左派和右派在稅制改革上意見嚴重分歧。
Eri moved her support from the centre to the left after the policy debate.
Eri 在政策辯論後把支持從中間派轉向左派。
The left has proposed new laws to protect part-time workers.
左派已提出保護兼職勞工的新法案。
- the Left
Same meaning; often capitalised to emphasise it as a formal political label
- liberals
In US politics, roughly equivalent; in European politics, liberals are often centrist rather than left-wing
- progressives
Emphasises commitment to social reform rather than specific economic policies
- the right
Political groups that favour free markets, traditional values, and limited government
- conservatives
Generally opposed to rapid social or political change
文法句型
the left
the left + verb (singular/plural)
用法筆記
Almost always takes the definite article 'the' and is treated as a collective singular noun. Can take a singular verb ('the left is divided') or plural verb ('the left are divided') depending on whether the speaker emphasises the group as a unit or its individual members.
常見錯誤
left — 動詞
- leftpresent simple I / you / we / they
- lefts3rd person singular
- lefting-ing form
- leftedpast simple
1. The past form of 'leave', used to describe going away from a person, place, or s
離開；留下
leave 的過去式及過去分詞
The past form of 'leave', used to describe going away from a person, place, or situation, or causing something to stay behind after you have gone.
Christopher left the office at six o'clock and took the train home.
Christopher 昨天六點離開辦公室搭火車回家。
left + [place] for past completed action
Eshe left her umbrella on the bus by accident this morning.
Eshe 今天早上不小心把雨傘留在公車上。
The train had already left the station when we arrived.
我們到車站時，火車已經離開車站了。
Tamar left a note on the kitchen table before going to work.
Tamar 在廚房桌上留了張紙條再去上班。
Allison left her hometown after university to find work abroad.
Allison 大學畢業後離開家鄉到國外找工作。
文法句型
left + place/person
left + object + preposition
left + object + adjective
用法筆記
This is the past simple and past participle form of 'leave'. It cannot be used for present or future actions. For present habitual actions use 'leave' or 'leaves'; for the future use 'will leave' or 'am/is/are leaving'. The past participle form is the same: 'She has left the building.'