How to Write 贤 (xián) — Meaning “virtuous; worthy; talented”

Imagine a virtuous person who has both "money" (贝) and "skill" (又 looks like a hand doing good work). So think: "A worthy person is rich in both wealth and talent." This links the components to the meaning of virtuous and worthy.

Write the left radical 贝 first with its three strokes, including a hook at the bottom right. Then add the right part 又, which has two strokes. A common mistake is making the 又 too large or forgetting the hook on 贝; keep the left side narrow and the right side balanced.

贞 (zhēn) has 卜 on top of 贝 and means chaste or loyal, while 负 (fù) has 刀 on top of 贝 and means to carry or negative. 贤 uses 又 instead, and focuses on virtue and talent, not loyalty or burden. Visually, 贤 is the only one with 又 on the right side of 贝.

贤 is used in formal or classical contexts to describe moral excellence, such as 贤惠 for a kind wife or 圣贤 for ancient sages. It appears in respectful terms but is rare in daily conversation. Culturally, 贤 reflects Confucian ideals of personal virtue and worthiness.

Common words containing 贤 include: 贤惠 (xián huì) — virtuous and kind (traditionally used for women); 圣贤 (shèng xián) — Sages and worthies; 贤人 (xián rén) — virtuous person; worthy person.