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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#3139DifficultyHard
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
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Pronunciation of 善
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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).
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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.
This tangibly demonstrated that the world situation could be improved.
Cultural Notes for 善
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 善
Compounds16
膳shan4meals, provisions
缮shan4to repair, to mend; to transcribe, to rewrite
鳝shan4eel
幞fu2turban
蟮shan4earthworm
鄯shan4an ancient district in Gansu province
僐
墡
嫸
橏
歚
磰
繕shan4to repair, to mend; to transcribe, to rewrite
鐥
饍
鱔shan4eel
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good deeds
和善good-natured
善待to treat well
善后reparations善後
不善bad
慈善家philanthropist
善解人意to be good at understanding others (idiom)
善心kindness
伪善hypocritical偽善
善恶good and evil善惡
行善to do good works
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
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.
