不善

bùshàn

adjective #23,637

Meanings

1 not good at
2 bad
3 ill-intentioned
4 not to be underestimated

Characters

good / virtuous / skilled

Examples

HSK 4

此人来者不善，要小心。

Cǐrén lái zhě bùshàn, yào xiǎoxīn.

This person hasn't come with good intentions - be careful.

HSK 6

他不善于表达自己的感情。

Tā bùshàn yú biǎodá zìjǐ de gǎnqíng.

He is not good at expressing his feelings.

HSK 7-9

她的厨艺不善，只能做简单的菜。

Tā de chúyì bùshàn, zhǐnéng zuò jiǎndān de cài.

Her cooking skills are not great; she can only make simple dishes.

Tips

usage

不善 has two distinct uses: (1) 不善于 / 不善 + verb: 'not good at something' (e.g. 不善于交际 - not good at socializing); (2) standalone or in 来者不善 - meaning 'ill-intentioned' or 'not to be taken lightly.' Context determines the meaning.

Stroke Order

不 bù

善 shàn