left-hand

IPA/ˈleft hænd/
KK[lˌɛfthˈænd]IPA/ˈleft hænd/

left-hand — adjective

1. located on the side of something that is opposite to the right side, especially

1.形容詞A2
釋義

located on the side of something that is opposite to the right side, especially when describing a fixed position or direction

例句

The bakery was on the left-hand side of the high street, next to the post office.

collocation: left-hand side

Take the left-hand turn at the roundabout and continue for about a kilometre.

collocation: left-hand turn

同義詞
  • left

    simpler and more general — 'left turn' and 'left-hand turn' are interchangeable, but 'left side' is more common in everyday speech

  • leftward

    more formal, describes direction of movement rather than position

反義詞
  • right-hand

    the exact opposite side — 'right-hand side' vs 'left-hand side'

文法句型

left-hand + noun

用法筆記

Used only before a noun — 'the left-hand side', NOT 'the side is left-hand'. This sense does not describe a person's handedness.

常見錯誤

❌Turn at the left-hand.
✅Take the left-hand turn.
💡left-hand must be followed by a noun such as turn, lane, or side.
❌The left-hand of the building is blue.
✅The left-hand side of the building is blue.
💡left-hand alone cannot stand as a noun.

2. made to be worn on or used by the left hand, or performed by moving that hand —

2.形容詞B1
釋義

made to be worn on or used by the left hand, or performed by moving that hand — describes tools, gloves, and other items designed for people who prefer using their left hand

例句

The tailor bought a pair of left-hand scissors for her sewing work.

collocation: left-hand scissors

The young guitarist spent the afternoon learning a new left-hand fingering pattern for the piece.

反義詞
  • right-hand

    the opposite side — 'right-hand glove' vs 'left-hand glove'; 'right-hand drive' vs 'left-hand drive'

文法句型

left-hand + noun (tool, accessory, body part)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (LEFT SIDE): sense 2 refers specifically to items designed for or actions performed by the left hand, not to general spatial positions. When describing a person as habitually using their left hand, 'left-handed' is preferred — compare 'a left-hand glove' (a glove for the left hand) with 'a left-handed glove' (a glove designed for a left-handed person, which may be for either hand).

常見錯誤

❌She is left-hand.
✅She is left-handed.
💡use left-handed to describe a person's dominant hand, not left-hand.
❌I need a left-hand for the job.
✅I need someone left-handed for the job.
💡left-hand is an adjective that modifies a noun, not a standalone description of a person.