good, virtuous, charitable, kind

JLPT N3 12 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character (shàn) primarily means 'good,' 'kind,' or 'virtuous.' It often describes a person's moral qualities or kindness. It can also function as a verb meaning 'to be good at' or 'to excel in' something.

Common Collocations

  • 善良 (xīndì shànliáng): kind-hearted, describing a person's nature.
  • 善于 (shànyú): good at, skilled in; used before verbs to indicate proficiency.
  • 发扬 (fāyáng shàn): to promote goodness or virtuous qualities.

Usage Notes

When describes a person, it emphasizes their moral goodness or kindness. When used as 善于, it shifts to a skill or ability context, meaning 'to be good at' something. This dual usage is common and important to distinguish.

Common Confusion

Don't confuse (shàn) with (hǎo), which also means 'good' but is more general and often used for preferences or simple quality. has a stronger moral or skill-related nuance.

Example Sentences

He is a kind-hearted person who always helps others.

We should promote the quality of goodness and be moral people.

He is good at communication and can resolve conflicts within the team well.