adjective HSK 4
good · fine · favorable · virtuous
Meaning
良 is a classical and formal character meaning 'good' or 'virtuous'. It emphasizes moral goodness, quality, or excellence. While not as common in everyday speech as 好 (hǎo), it appears frequently in formal contexts, written Chinese, and compounds to denote quality, virtue, or favorability.
Usage
良 is more formal and literary than 好. Native speakers use it primarily in set phrases, formal writing, idioms, and compounds like 良好 (liánghǎo, 'good'), 善良 (shànliáng, 'kindhearted'), or 良心 (liángxīn, 'conscience'). Rarely used alone in casual conversation.
Examples
- 01他是一个善良的人。.He is a kindhearted person.
- 02我们保持着良好的合作关系。.We maintain a good cooperative relationship.
Common collocations
- 良好good, favorable
- 善良kindhearted, good-natured
- 良心conscience
- 优良fine, excellent
Antonyms
Origin
The character 良 originally depicted grain stored in a container, symbolizing abundance and goodness. Over time it evolved to represent moral goodness and quality.