左转。

Use it as a command or a direction. If you are directing a driver, just say 左转. If you want to be more polite, add a 请 (please) at the start. You can also add 往 (towards) to say 往左转. It works perfectly in short bursts. No need for complex grammar here.

You will use this constantly while traveling. Use it when giving directions to a Didi driver. Use it when explaining how to find your favorite hidden dumpling shop. It is also great for giving walking directions to friends. If you are the navigator in the passenger seat, this is your go-to phrase.

Do not use this if you are trying to describe a 'leftist' political view. That is a different context entirely. Also, avoid using it as a standalone command to a superior without a 'please'. It might sound a bit like you are barking orders. If you are at a literal fork in the road of life, this phrase is too literal for deep metaphors. Stick to the streets for this one.

In China, directions are often given using cardinal points (North, South, East, West). This is especially true in cities like Beijing. However, 左转 is the universal language of the 'now'. In the age of GPS and ride-sharing, everyone understands 'left' and 'right'. It is the modern, fast-paced way to navigate the urban jungle.

You might hear 向左转 (xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn) which is slightly more formal. In some regions, people say 左拐 (zuǒ guǎi). 拐 also means 'to turn' but feels a bit more colloquial and 'street'. If you are in a car, you might hear 左转弯 (zuǒ zhuǎn wān). They all mean the same thing: don't go straight, don't go right, go left!