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良 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
liánggoodHSK 7, a, 7 strokes, radical 艮, rank #12315, Hard
liángveryHSK 7, a, 7 strokes, radical 艮, rank #12315, Hard
liángvery muchHSK 7, a, 7 strokes, radical 艮, rank #12315, Hard
liánggood, virtuous, respectableHSK 7, a, 7 strokes, radical 艮, rank #12315, Hard
liáng(liang2) T2
  1. 1good
  2. 2very
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
liáng(liang2)

The character 良 (liáng) conveys the meaning of 'good' or 'virtuous.' It is often used to describe quality, character, or moral standing, indicating something that is commendable or desirable. Common contexts include discussing a person's traits, product quality, or general positive attributes.

Strokes7RadicalFrequency#12315DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 良 is often tied to virtues such as integrity and moral conduct, which are emphasized in Confucian teachings. Discussions about '良心' (liángxīn) meaning 'conscience' reflect the importance placed on moral character.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'good' person standing on a 'mountain' (the radical for mountain is 山, similar in form). This person is so 'good' (良, liáng) that they radiate positivity, making the mountain a symbol of virtue and strength, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 良

liáng(liang2)
1good
2very
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 良

Simplified
7Strokes
Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#12315Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 良

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 良

Quick Contrast

良 (liáng) vs 好 (hǎo) — use 良 for a more formal or moral context, while 好 is more general and casual.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'good' person standing on a 'mountain' (the radical for mountain is 山, similar in form). This person is so 'good' (良, liáng) that they radiate positivity, making the mountain a symbol of virtue and strength, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Usage Notes

When using 良, be aware that it can sometimes be confused with 好 (hǎo), which also means 'good' but has a broader and more casual application. 良 tends to be used in more formal contexts or in expressions like '良好的' (liánghǎo de), meaning 'good quality.' Watch out for the tonal pronunciation to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

While 良 is not officially listed in HSK levels, it is related to other words at HSK 3 like 好 (hǎo) and 优 (yōu), which also denote positive qualities. Focus on how 良 can enhance your vocabulary when discussing virtues or qualities in more formal settings.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 良 is often tied to virtues such as integrity and moral conduct, which are emphasized in Confucian teachings. Discussions about '良心' (liángxīn) meaning 'conscience' reflect the importance placed on moral character.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 良 in casual situations where 好 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '这个良' (zhège liáng) instead of '这个好' (zhège hǎo) when simply saying 'this is good.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 良

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Etymology of 良

Explanation

Pictograph of a hallway, now written as 廊. The character is based on the original meaning "hallway", which is unrelated to the modern meaning.

Learn more about character formation (六书)
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 良?

Decomposition of 良

IDS Structure⿱丶艮
Full Character
=
top
gen3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 良?

Write 良

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 良

良 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

她善____而乐观。

She is kind and optimistic.

Common Confusions with 良

vs
liàng

Similar pronunciation but different meaning.

vs
láng

Similar sound; different meaning.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "good"?

or

Usage Notes for 良

Confusing 良 with 好Common Error

Learners often confuse 良 with 好 (hǎo), both meaning 'good'. However, 良 is more formal and is used in specific contexts.

1

他的品德良好。

His character is good.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

他的品德____好。

His character is good.

Example Sentences for 良 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我已经本着良心将危险告知他们。

wǒ yǐ jīng běn zháo liáng xīn jiāng wēi xiǎn gào zhī tā mén。

I have been scrupulous about telling them the dangers.
2
《每日邮报》的头版标题为“良知的声音”。

《 《 měi rì yóu》 bào 》 de tóu bǎn biāo“ tí wéi “ liáng zhī”。

The Daily Mail has the headline "The Voice of Conscience"
3
该队还因其良好的体育精神及公平竞争精神而受到了表扬。

gāi duì huán yīn qí liáng hǎo de tǐ yù jīng shén jí gōng píng jìng zhēng jīng shén ér shòu dào le biǎo yáng。

The team also won praise for sportsmanship and fair play.
4
这是否是原本良好的增长曲线中暂时的偏离?

zhè shì fǒu shì yuán běn liáng hǎo de zēng cháng qū xiàn zhōng zàn shí de piān lí?

Was it just a temporary blip on an otherwise healthy growth curve?
5
这给我的个人生活和我的工作都造成了严重的不良影响。

zhè gěi wǒ de gè rén shēng huó hé wǒ de gōng zuò dū zào chéng le yán zhòng de bù liáng yǐng xiǎng。

This has taken a great toll on me personally and professionally.
6
尽管这辆汽车基本状况良好,我还是担心一些地方不够安全。

jìn guǎn zhè liàng qì chē jī běn zhuàng kuàng liáng hǎo, , wǒ huán shì dān xīn yī xiē dì fāng bù gòu ān。

Although the car is basically sound, I was worried about certain areas.
7
轻松捞取利润的可能性吸引了一拨不良商人。

qīng sōng lāo qǔ lì rùn de kě néng xìng xī yǐn le yī bō bù liáng shāng rén。

The prospect of easy profits has attracted the wrong kind of businessman.
8
他粗暴的外表下藏着一颗非常善良的心。

tā cū bào de wài biǎo xià cáng zháo yī kē fēi cháng shàn liáng de xīn。

His gruff exterior concealed one of the kindest hearts.
9
我爱上他,是因为他秉性善良。

wǒ ài shàng tā, , shì yīn wéi tā bǐng xìng shàn。

I fell in love with him because of his kind nature.
10
不良姿势一旦定型,日后可就有你受的了。

bù liáng zī shì yī dàn dìng xíng, , rì hòu kě jiù yǒu nǐ shòu de。

If bad posture becomes habitual, you risk long-term effects.

Cultural Notes for 良

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 良 is often tied to virtues such as integrity and moral conduct, which are emphasized in Confucian teachings. Discussions about '良心' (liángxīn) meaning 'conscience' reflect the importance placed on moral character.

Word Family of 良

Compounds33
niang2mother
shi2to eat
lang4wave
Lang2surname Lang
lang2wolf
niang4to ferment
liang2grain
lang2pure, white; carnelian
liang2to hop, to jump; hurried, urgent
lang2chain, lock; ornament
lang4Japanese belladonna; Scopolia japonica
lang2grass; weeds
lang2high door, high gate; high, lofty
juan4to offer a sacrifice
lang2chain, lock; ornament
lang2high door, high gate; high, lofty
shi2food; to eat
Words Containing This Character20
良好liánghǎogood
善良shànliánggood and honest
不良bùliángbad
良心liángxīnconscience
liánggood
优良yōuliángfine優良
新奥尔良New Orleans, Louisiana新奧爾良
良性liángxìngvirtuous
改良gǎiliángto improve (sth)
良知conscience
良机a good chance良機
良种improved type良種
精良excellent
良药panacea良藥
良久a good while
良方good medicine
营养不良malnutrition營養不良
良师益友good teacher and helpful friend (idiom); mentor良師益友
张学良Zhang Xueliang (1901-2001) son of Fengtian clique warlord, then senior general for the Nationalists and subsequently for the People's Liberation Army張學良
奥尔良Orléans奧爾良
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 娘 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 良

良 (liáng) and 好 (hǎo) both mean 'good', but 良 is often used in more formal or literary contexts, while 好 is more common in everyday conversation. 良 can also imply a higher quality or deeper appreciation than 好, which is more general.