Signification
Asking for a choice between two directions.
Contexte culturel
In jeepneys, passengers often act as co-navigators. If a driver is new to a route, they will frequently ask 'Kaliwa o kanan?' to the passengers sitting near them. 'Kaliwa' (The Left) is a strong political label in the Philippines, often associated with the national democratic movement. Asking if someone is 'kaliwa o kanan' can have political undertones. Some older Filipinos believe that an itchy right palm (kanan) means money is coming, while an itchy left palm (kaliwa) means you will spend money. The 'Kaliwa o Kanan' challenge is a popular social media trend where people have to choose between two hidden items or paths, often leading to funny results.
Use your hands
Filipinos often use hand gestures while saying this phrase to make the direction clearer.
Don't say 'Right' for 'Correct'
If someone is right about a fact, say 'Tama ka', not 'Kanan ka'.
Signification
Asking for a choice between two directions.
Use your hands
Filipinos often use hand gestures while saying this phrase to make the direction clearer.
Don't say 'Right' for 'Correct'
If someone is right about a fact, say 'Tama ka', not 'Kanan ka'.
The Jeepney Rule
If you are sitting near the driver, be ready to answer 'Kaliwa o kanan?' if he asks about your stop.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct word to complete the question: 'Saan tayo lilingon, kaliwa ___ kanan?'
Saan tayo lilingon, kaliwa ___ kanan?
'O' is the Filipino word for 'or', used to provide a choice.
Complete the dialogue between a driver and a passenger.
Driver: 'Dito na po ba?' Passenger: 'Hindi pa po. Sa susunod na kanto, pili tayo: ______ o ______?'
When talking about turns at a corner (kanto), 'kaliwa o kanan' is the most logical choice.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Situation: You are holding two candies behind your back and asking a friend to pick one.
This phrase is used for binary choices, including choosing between two hands.
Fill in the missing direction: 'Hindi ito kanan, kaya dapat itong ______.'
Hindi ito kanan, kaya dapat itong ______.
The opposite of 'kanan' (right) is 'kaliwa' (left).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Left vs Right in Filipino
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesSaan tayo lilingon, kaliwa ___ kanan?
'O' is the Filipino word for 'or', used to provide a choice.
Driver: 'Dito na po ba?' Passenger: 'Hindi pa po. Sa susunod na kanto, pili tayo: ______ o ______?'
When talking about turns at a corner (kanto), 'kaliwa o kanan' is the most logical choice.
Situation: You are holding two candies behind your back and asking a friend to pick one.
This phrase is used for binary choices, including choosing between two hands.
Hindi ito kanan, kaya dapat itong ______.
The opposite of 'kanan' (right) is 'kaliwa' (left).
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it is neutral. To make it more polite, add 'po' at the end: 'Kaliwa o kanan po?'
Yes, if you have two food items in front of you, you can ask someone 'Kaliwa o kanan?' to let them pick.
There isn't one single opposite, but 'kaliwa' and 'kanan' are the alternatives to going 'diretso' (straight).
It's an idiom meaning 'everywhere'. For example, 'Kaliwa't kanan ang utang' means 'Debts are everywhere'.
You say 'Liko sa kaliwa' or simply 'Kaliwa tayo'.
Not directly in etymology, but 'kanang kamay' means 'right hand' and is also used to mean 'right-hand man' or 'assistant'.
Rarely in daily conversation. Most people use landmarks or 'kaliwa/kanan/diretso'.
It is the verb form meaning 'to turn left' or 'to go left'.
Yes, 'nangaliwa' is a common term for having an affair (literally 'went to the left').
Yes, without 'o', it just sounds like a list: 'Left, right'.
Expressions liées
Kaliwa't kanan
similarLeft and right; everywhere.
Liko sa kaliwa
builds onTurn left.
Kanan lang
specialized formJust to the right.
Saan banda?
similarWhich side/area?
