Definition
善 (shàn) is a formal adjective meaning 'virtuous, kind-hearted' or 'good at' — it covers both moral goodness and skill. As a moral term it is more literary than 善良 (shànliáng, the everyday word for 'kind-hearted'), and as 'good at' it is more formal than 拿手 (náshǒu, 'skilled in, one's forte'). It often appears in compound words and set phrases.
adjective
virtuouskind-heartedbenevolentgood (in a moral sense)well-disposedgood atskilled in
Easily confused
- 着zhelook-alike(particle) indicates an action in progress or a continuing state
- 山shānsound-alikemountain; hill
- 样yànglook-alike(classifier) kind, type, variety
- 扇shànsound-alikefan
- 痒yǎnglook-alikeitchy
- 扇shànsound-alike(classifier) for doors, windows, gates, folding screens (一∼门, 两∼窗)
- 闪shǎnsound-aliketo dodge, to duck out of the way
- 删shānsound-aliketo delete
Examples
- 。Tā shì yí gè shàn rén.He is a virtuous person.
- 善。Tā shàn shūfǎ.He is good at calligraphy.
- 。Tā chōngmǎn shàn yì.He is full of goodwill.
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