Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Left: Located on or relating to the side of the body that is to the west when facing north, typically the side opposite the right hand.
   • Wrong / Incorrect: Not in accordance with what is morally right, proper, or true.
   • Contrary / Opposite: Opposed in nature, character, or purpose; acting against or in a reverse direction.

2. Noun (regional/dialectal):

   • Fruit: The sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seed and can be eaten as food.
   • Object resembling a fruit: An object with a round or spherical shape, such as a ball, mine, or a mountain (in compound words).

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Left):

  • Tay trái của tôi. (My left hand.)
  • Rẽ trái ở ngã tư. (Turn left at the intersection.)

• Adjective (Wrong/Contrary):

  • Làm trái lời hứa là không tốt. (Going against a promise is not good.)
  • Hành động đó hoàn toàn trái pháp luật. (That action is completely contrary to the law.)
  • Anh ấy đã trái. (He was wrong.)

• Noun (Fruit/Object):

  • Mua vài trái cam. (Buy a few oranges [fruit].)
  • Trận đấu bắt đầu với một trái bóng. (The match starts with a ball.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to form compound nouns describing spherical or fruit-like objects.

  • trái núi: a mountain (literally "fruit of the mountain").
  • trái tim: the heart (literally "fruit of the heart").

• Used in abstract or figurative senses to describe the reverse or hidden aspect of something.

  • Mặt trái của xã hội. (The dark side / seamy side of society.)
  • Lộn trái áo ra. (Turn the shirt inside out.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trái cây (n): Fruit (as a food category).

  • Cửa hàng trái cây. (A fruit shop.)

• Trái lại (adv/phrase): On the contrary; conversely.

  • Tôi không mệt. Trái lại, tôi rất khỏe. (I am not tired. On the contrary, I am very energetic.)

• Trái phép (adj/adv): Illegal; without permission.

  • Đậu xe trái phép. (Parking illegally.)

Synonyms

• Left: Sinister (archaic), port (nautical).
• Wrong: Incorrect, mistaken, erroneous.
• Contrary: Opposite, opposing,逆向的 (nghịch hướng).
• Fruit: Produce (collectively).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Trái khoáy: Perverse; awkward; contrary in an irritating or unreasonable way.

  • Tính nết trái khoáy. (A perverse temperament.)

• Trái ngành trái nghề: Outside of one's field or profession; doing work one is not trained for.

  • Công việc trái ngành trái nghề. (A job outside one's field.)

• Thuận tay trái: Left-handed.

  • Cậu bé thuận tay trái. (The boy is left-handed.)

• Việc tay trái: A side job; a secondary occupation.

  • Nhiếp ảnh là việc tay trái của anh ấy. (Photography is his side job.)

adj

1. left wrong contrary