Meaning
善 is a classical and modern Chinese character representing goodness, virtue, and kindness. As an adjective it describes moral goodness or skillfulness, and as a verb it means to be good at something or to do something well. It appears frequently in formal contexts, literary works, and philosophical discussions about morality.
Usage
善 is more formal and literary than colloquial terms like 好. It commonly appears in set phrases and idioms (成语), Buddhist and Confucian texts, and written Chinese. Native speakers use it to express moral virtue, charitable actions, or expertise in a skill. Common patterns include 善于 (skilled at) and 善良 (kindhearted).
Examples
- 01她是一个心地善良的人。.She is a kindhearted person.
- 02他善于解决复杂的问题。.He is skilled at solving complex problems.
Common collocations
- 善于交际good at socializing
- 善意goodwill, good intentions
- 善始善终to see something through from start to finish
- 多行善事to do many good deeds
Antonyms
Origin
The character 善 originally depicted a sheep (羊) above two mouths (言), symbolizing words that are as gentle and good as a sheep, representing goodness and virtue in speech and action.