善 (shàn) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 善 (shàn) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 善 (shàn) means "good; kind; virtuous". It is an HSK Level 3 character, with 12 strokes and the radical 口.

Q: How do you write 善 stroke by stroke?

善 has 12 strokes. The radical is 口. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 善 and 㕡?

善 (shàn) and 㕡 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 善?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 口. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 善?

Common words containing 善 include: 善良 (shàn liáng) — kind-hearted; 友善 (yǒu shàn) — Friendly; kind.; 改善 (gǎi shàn) — to improve; to ameliorate.

How to Write 善

The character 善 (shàn) is written with 12 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 口 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

善 is pronounced shàn in Mandarin Chinese. It means good; kind; virtuous.

As an HSK Level 3 character, 善 is an intermediate-level character.

Common Words with 善

善良 shàn liáng

kind-hearted

友善 yǒu shàn

Friendly; kind.

改善 gǎi shàn

to improve; to ameliorate

Example Sentences

她是一个善良的女孩。

tā shì yí gè shàn liáng de nǚ hái

She is a kind girl.

这里的邻居很友善。

zhè lǐ de lín jū hěn yǒu shàn

The neighbors here are very friendly.

我们要改善生活环境。

wǒ men yào gǎi shàn shēng huó huán jìng

We should improve our living environment.

Similar Characters

㕡 hé

哥 gē

哦 é

Practice Writing 善 (shàn)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 善 with real-time feedback.

App Store ▶ Google Play

Frequently Asked Questions about 善

What does 善 (shàn) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 善 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 善 and 㕡?

What mistakes do learners make writing 善?

What common words use 善?

How to Write 善 (shàn)