shàn
adjective HSK 7 #3,139

Meanings

  1. 1 good; virtuous; kind
  2. 2 to be good at; skilled in
  3. 3 to do well; properly

Examples

Tā xīndì shànliáng.
She is kind-hearted.
Tā shànyú jiāojì.
He is good at socializing.
Shànyì de tíxǐng.
A well-intentioned reminder.

Tips

usage
is used in: 善良 (kind/good-natured), 善于 (good at), 善意 (goodwill), 改善 (to improve), 慈善 (charity), 友善 (friendly). It is one of the core moral values in Chinese philosophy.
culture
The opening of the Three Character Classic () states: (At birth, human nature is inherently good) — reflecting Mencius's belief in innate human goodness, a cornerstone of Confucian thought.

Stroke Order

shàn