左边
left side; the left
zuǒbian
What does 左边 mean?
左边 (zuǒbian) is the direction/location noun meaning 'left side' or 'on the left.' Two patterns are essential. First, as a location: A 在 B 的左边 = 'A is on B's left' (银行在书店的左边 'the bank is to the left of the bookstore'). Second, with prepositions: 在左边 ('on the left'), 从左边 ('from the left'), 往左边 ('toward the left'). The opposite is 右边 (yòubian, 'right side'). For English speakers, the key thing is that 左边 is a NOUN, not an adjective — to say 'the left hand,' you need 左 + noun (左手), not 左边的手. 左边 specifies a side or zone in space. In spoken directions, 左边 often pairs with 拐 ('turn'): 往左边拐 = 'turn left.'
Note: Standard everyday word for direction/location. The 边 syllable is pronounced as a neutral tone (zuǒbian), not biān.
Character breakdown
left
side; edge
Memory hook: 左 is the character for 'left' — note the 工 component on the bottom. Pair it with 边 ('side') to mean the left zone.
Example sentences
银行在书店的左边。
Yínháng zài shūdiàn de zuǒbian.
The bank is to the left of the bookstore.
neutral
我家在左边。
Wǒ jiā zài zuǒbian.
My house is on the left.
spoken
请往左边走。
Qǐng wǎng zuǒbian zǒu.
Please go to the left.
spoken
左边那个人是我哥哥。
Zuǒbian nàge rén shì wǒ gēge.
The person on the left is my older brother.
spoken
左边是医院，右边是学校。
Zuǒbian shì yīyuàn, yòubian shì xuéxiào.
On the left is the hospital, on the right is the school.
neutral
Common phrases with 左边
Synonyms
左面 also means 'left side' and is largely interchangeable with 左边. 左边 is more common in mainland speech; 左面 is slightly more written. Both work for the same locations.
左侧 ('left side') is more formal/written, common in signage, traffic directions, or technical writing. 左边 is the everyday spoken choice.
Don't confuse 左边 with
右边 = 'right side.' The characters 左 and 右 are easy to confuse visually for beginners — 左 has 工 underneath, 右 has 口.
左 alone is the bare 'left' that combines into compounds: 左手 ('left hand'), 左脚 ('left foot'). For 'on the left side' as a location, use 左边.