CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionUncorrected

Right and Left [Part1]

  • Today, I will talk about “right” and “left.”

    右と左 [パート1]


    Worldwide, it’s thought that “right” is better and more canonical than “left” in many cases.
    今日は、右と左について話します。

    In fact, “right” has the meaning of something like “correct,” and the right-hand side of the first place is the second place in a podium.
    世界的には、右のほうが優れている、正統であるといった見方がされることが多いです。

    On the other hand, “left” has sometimes negative meanings, for example, “left-handed” contains the meaning of “awkward.”
    実際、右(Right)は正しいという意味を持ち、表彰台でも一位の右手側が二位です。

    In addition, in Hinduism and Islam, a right hand is a sacred hand to eat meals, and a left hand is an impure hand to clean your bottoms.
    一方、左はleft-handed(不便な)のように、マイナスの意味を持ちます。

    However, Japanese people often think that “left” is superior to “right.”
    また、ヒンドゥー教やイスラム教では右手は食事をする清浄な手で、左手はお尻を洗う不浄の手です。

    In our diets, we place staple food and main dish on left-side.
    しかし、日本では左が優位とされることが多いです。

    In our politics, the rank of Sadaijin (minister of the left) is higher than the rank of Udaijin (minister of the right).
    食事においては、左側に主食や主菜など、重要なものを起きます。

    (Since this post will be too long, I will write the rest part tomorrow.)
    左大臣は右大臣よりも位が高いです。

    Original sentence