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善 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
善
shàn
good (virtuous)
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #3139, Very Hard
善
shàn
benevolent
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #3139, Very Hard
善
shàn
well-disposed
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #3139, Very Hard
善
shàn
good at sth
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #3139, Very Hard
善
shàn
to improve or perfect
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #3139, Very Hard
善
shàn
good, virtuous, charitable, kind
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #3139, Very Hard
shàn(shan4)shan T4
1good (virtuous)
2benevolent
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March 24, 2026
善shàn(shan4)
The character 善 (shàn) primarily means 'good' or 'virtuous,' often referring to moral qualities such as kindness and benevolence. It can also imply being skilled at something or making improvements in various contexts, such as personal growth or perfecting a craft. This character is commonly used in discussions about ethics and morality.
Strokes12Radical口Frequency#3139DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 善 is deeply rooted in Confucian values, which emphasize moral integrity and benevolence as essential traits for individuals in society. This character often appears in discussions about personal conduct and societal expectations.
Memory tip
Imagine a shining sun (the radical 口, representing 'mouth' or 'speech') that spreads warmth and kindness, symbolizing goodness. Associate '善' with 'shàn' by picturing a person speaking benevolently under the sun, enhancing their skills and virtuous nature.
Meanings of 善
shàn(shan4)
1good (virtuous)
2benevolent
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 善
善Simplified
12Strokes
口Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#3139Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 善
Podcast: 善
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AI study notes for 善
Quick Contrast
善 (shàn) vs 好 (hǎo) — use 善 for moral goodness or virtue, while 好 is more general for 'good' in quality or preference.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 善 with 好 (hǎo), which also means 'good' but in a more general sense. 善 is typically used in formal contexts, especially in literature or discussions about morality, while 好 is more casual. Be mindful of using the correct tone; 善 is pronounced with a rising tone (shàn).
HSK Study Tips
Although 善 is not in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other HSK words related to morality and goodness, such as 好 (hǎo) and 仁 (rén). Students should focus on using 善 in appropriate contexts to express virtues and skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 善 to describe general goodness in everyday situations, while it usually conveys a deeper, ethical meaning. For example, saying '这道菜很好' (zhè dào cài hěn hǎo, 'This dish is very good') is correct, but using 善 in this context would be inappropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 善
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 善 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
Composed of two 言 (speech) components and 羊 (sheep). In ancient China sheep (羊) were associated with goodness and fortune, which is why 羊 is a component in characters like 美 (beautiful), 祥 (auspicious), 善 (benevolent), and 義 (justice).
The character 善 (shàn) primarily means 'good' or 'virtuous,' often referring to moral qualities such as kindness and benevolence. It can also imply being skilled at something or making improvements in various contexts, such as personal growth or perfecting a craft. This character is commonly used in discussions about ethics and morality.
When to use 善
Learners often confuse 善 with 好 (hǎo), which also means 'good' but in a more general sense. 善 is typically used in formal contexts, especially in literature or discussions about morality, while 好 is more casual. Be mindful of using the correct tone; 善 is pronounced with a rising tone (shàn).
善 or something close to it
善 (shàn) vs 好 (hǎo) — use 善 for moral goodness or virtue, while 好 is more general for 'good' in quality or preference.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 善 to describe general goodness in everyday situations, while it usually conveys a deeper, ethical meaning. For example, saying '这道菜很好' (zhè dào cài hěn hǎo, 'This dish is very good') is correct, but using 善 in this context would be inappropriate.
Write 善
善
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Practice writing 善 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 善
善 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 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.
"State-owned industries will always perform poorly," John Moore informed readers.
9
我用完善后的技术摘掉了纤维瘤。
wǒ yòng wánshàn hòu de jìshù zhāi diào le xiānwéi liú。
I removed the fibroid tumours, using the techniques that I have perfected.
10
这清楚地表明世界局势是可以改善的。
zhè qīngchu dì biǎomíng shìjiè júshì shì kěyǐ gǎishàn de。
This tangibly demonstrated that the world situation could be improved.
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Word Family of 善
Compounds16
膳shànmeals, provisions
缮shànto repair, to mend; to transcribe, to rewrite
鳝shàneel
幞fúturban
蟮shànearthworm
鄯shànan ancient district in Gansu province
僐shàn
墡shàn
嫸zhǎn
橏zhǎn
歚shàn
磰shàn
繕shànto repair, to mend; to transcribe, to rewrite
鐥shàn
饍shàn
鱔shàneel
Words containing this character20
改善gǎishànto make better
完善wánshànexcellent
慈善císhànbenevolent
善shànbenevolent
善良shànliánggood and honest
善于shànyúto be good at善於
友善yǒushànfriendly
善意shànyìgoodwill
妥善tuǒshànproper
善事shànshìgood deeds
和善héshàngood-natured
善待shàndàito treat well
善后shànhòureparations善後
不善búshànbad
慈善家císhànjiāphilanthropist
善解人意shànjiěrényìto be good at understanding others (idiom)
善心shànxīnkindness
伪善wěishànhypocritical偽善
善恶shàn’ègood and evil善惡
行善xíngshànto do good works
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 善
What does 膳 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 善
Synonyms for 善 (shàn) include 好 (hǎo), meaning good, and 仁 (rén), which means benevolence or compassion. These words can often be used interchangeably, depending on the context.
善 (shàn) typically emphasizes moral goodness or virtue, while 好 (hǎo) is more general and can refer to anything being good, nice, or well. For example, 善 is often used in contexts that highlight ethical behavior, whereas 好 can describe physical attributes or experiences.
善 (shàn) means good, virtuous, or benevolent in Chinese. It often describes a person's character or intentions, indicating a disposition towards kindness and morality. Additionally, it can refer to being good at something or improving a skill or quality.
You can use 善 (shàn) in sentences to describe actions or qualities, such as '他是一个善良的人' (tā shì yīgè shànliáng de rén), meaning 'He is a kind person.' It can also be used in contexts like '善于学习' (shàn yú xuéxí), meaning 'good at learning.'
Some examples include 善良 (shànliáng, meaning 'kind-hearted') and 善事 (shànshì, meaning 'good deed').
You can say '他是一个善良的人' (tā shì yī gè shànliáng de rén), meaning 'He is a kind-hearted person.'
Yes, 善 is used in both modern and literary Chinese, particularly in contexts discussing morality and virtue.
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