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善良 (shàn liáng) — kindhearted, good-natured

Definition

A common adjective for a fundamentally kind and good-hearted person. 仁慈 is more about showing mercy to others; 厚道 stresses honesty and sincerity alongside kindness.

adjective
kindheartedgood-natured

Examples

  • 善良。
    Tā shì yí gè hěn shàn liáng de rén.
    She is a very kindhearted person.
  • ，善良。
    Tā jīng cháng bāng zhù bié rén, fēi cháng shàn liáng.
    He often helps others; he is very kind.
  • 善良。
    Tā yǒu yì kē shàn liáng de xīn.
    She has a kind heart.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

善shàngood
良liánggood

Both 善 and 良 point to goodness, together meaning kind and honest.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

An earlier form of 善 joined 羊, a sheep linked with goodness or beauty, and 誩, described as a wrangle; the reference says this meaning link is hard to understand.

Open 善 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

良 possibly depicts corridors and a room.

Open 良 →
Appears in
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