Korean Dictionary
How to say "Turn Left" in Korean
“Turn Left” in Korean is 좌회전 (pronounced "jwahoejon").
좌회전
jwahoejon
Usage & Context
좌회전 is the instruction to turn left and is a key term when giving or following driving directions in Korea. Korean navigation systems announce 좌회전 instructions at the appropriate distance before the turn. Traffic signs at intersections indicate whether 좌회전 is permitted and during which signal phases.
Example Sentence
신호등에서 좌회전하세요.
Turn left at the traffic light.
How to use 좌회전 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Turn Left” is 좌회전, romanized as jwahoejon.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 좌회전.
Pronunciation Guide
"Jwa" sounds like "jwa" (rhymes with "wah" but with a 'j' sound at the beginning). "Hoe" is like "hweh" (rhymes with "way" but with an 'h' sound). "Jon" sounds like "john" (as in the name).
More Example Sentences
Giving driving directions.
다음 사거리에서 좌회전하세요.
Turn left at the next intersection.
Warning a driver about a traffic rule.
여기서 좌회전 금지예요.
Left turns are prohibited here.
Referring to a GPS instruction.
내비게이션이 좌회전하라고 알려줬어요.
The navigation system told me to turn left.
Cultural Context
In Korea, traffic laws regarding left turns (좌회전) can be quite specific. Many intersections have dedicated left-turn signals or specific times when left turns are allowed. Always look for the green arrow signal (좌회전 신호) or a sign indicating "비보호 좌회전" (unprotected left turn, meaning you can turn left if there's no oncoming traffic, even without a green arrow).
Editorial note
We review entries like 좌회전 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
좌회전 신호
left-turn signal
좌회전 차선
left-turn lane
좌회전하세요
Please turn left.
Related Expressions
우회전
uhoejon
turn right
직진
jikjin
go straight
유턴
yuteon
U-turn
신호등
sinhodung
traffic light
More Transportation Words
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