Composed of two 言 (speech) components and 羊 (sheep). In ancient China sheep (羊) were associated with goodness and beauty, which is why 羊 is a component in characters like 美 (beautiful), 善 (benevolent), and 義 (justice).
Components
Notes
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Historical Evolution
善
Bronze
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
善
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
善
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
善
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
善
Clerical
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
善
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
善
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
善
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
善
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
善
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
善
Regular
Modern
Chinese
善 [shàn]
good (virtuous); benevolent; well-disposed; good at sth; to improve or perfect
Japanese
good; goodness; right; virtue
Example Sentences
Japanese Names
善 ぜん
Zen surnamegiven name
善 ぜんじ
Zenji unclassified name
善 ぜんよう
Zen'you given name
善 ただし
Tadashi unclassified name
善 よし
Yoshi given name
善 よしあき
Yoshiaki given name
善 よしかつ
Yoshikatsu unclassified name
CHINESE WORDS (192)
改善 [gǎishàn] #6,054
to make better
完善 [wánshàn] #10,128
(of systems, facilities etc) comprehensive
慈善 [císhàn] #2,164
benevolent
善良 [shànliáng] #3,306
good and honest
善于 [shànyú] #5,872
to be good at
善于 [shànyú] #5,872
to be good at
友善 [yǒushàn] #4,354
friendly
善意 [shànyì] #9,368
goodwill
妥善 [tuǒshàn] #16,592
appropriate
善事 [shànshì] #9,286
good deeds
182 more
items
JAPANESE WORDS (178)
⭐ 良い [よい] #515
good
よく言う [よくいう] #2,920
to say enough (as much as required)
いい人 [いいひと] #4,058
good-natured person
⭐ 良く [よく] #4,899
nicely
⭐ 改善 [かいぜん] #5,462
betterment
⭐ 最善 [さいぜん] #6,184
the very best
⭐ 善意 [ぜんい] #9,707
virtuous mind
⭐ 善良 [ぜんりょう] #10,231
good (person, nature, etc.)
⭐ 良き [よき] #11,950
goodness
良し [よし] #12,627
good
168 more
items