How to Say “Make a left” in Chinese
Getting around · HSK 2
"Make a left" in Chinese is 左转 (Zuǒ zhuǎn). 左转 (zuǒ zhuǎn) is the standard, slightly formal phrasing; what you'd hear on GPS apps like 高德地图 or 百度地图. In everyday Mainland speech, people often say 往左拐 (wǎng zuǒ guǎi), where 拐 literally means 'turn a corner' and sounds more colloquial.
Primary translation
左转
Zuǒ zhuǎn
Traditional: 左轉
Variants by register
Casual
往左拐
Wǎng zuǒ guǎi
When to use it
左转 (zuǒ zhuǎn) is the standard, slightly formal phrasing; what you'd hear on GPS apps like 高德地图 or 百度地图. In everyday Mainland speech, people often say 往左拐 (wǎng zuǒ guǎi), where 拐 literally means 'turn a corner' and sounds more colloquial. Taiwanese speakers tend to prefer 左转 or 向左转. The verb 转 is third tone but when followed by another third tone (like 左), the first third tone shifts to second in actual pronunciation; a tone sandhi rule. Drivers use 左转, pedestrians use either interchangeably.
Example sentences
到路口左转。
Dào lùkǒu zuǒ zhuǎn.
Turn left at the intersection.
前面红绿灯往左拐。
Qiánmiàn hónglǜdēng wǎng zuǒ guǎi.
Make a left at the traffic light ahead.
左转之后就到了。
Zuǒ zhuǎn zhīhòu jiù dàole.
After turning left, you're there.