善(shàn)

HSK 312 strokes

good (virtuous)

Print a 善 worksheet PDFPractice writing 善

Stroke order animation

Character information

Pinyin
shàn
Meaning
good (virtuous); benevolent; well-disposed; good at sth; to improve or perfect
Strokes
12
HSK level
HSK 3
Traditional
Same

Origin & structure

Where 善 comes from and how its parts fit together.

Ideograph⿱羊⿱⿱丷一口

To give someone food 羊 and conversation 口

A combination of parts whose meanings add up to the whole.

Made of

羊yáng丷bā一yī口kǒu

Parts are arranged top to bottom.

How to write 善 step by step

12 strokes — each frame adds one stroke, shown in dark ink over the lighter ones.

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  9. 9
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  12. 12

Words with 善

Common words using 善 — tap any character to open its stroke-order page.

wán完shàn善
HSK 3

(of systems, facilities etc) comprehensive

Open 完善 page →
shàn善yú于
HSK 4

to be good at; to be adept at

Open 善于 page →
shàn善liáng良
HSK 4

good and honest

Open 善良 page →
gǎi改shàn善
HSK 4

to make better; to improve

Open 改善 page →
yǒu友shàn善
HSK 7-9

friendly

Open 友善 page →
shàn善yì意
HSK 7-9

goodwill

Open 善意 page →
tuǒ妥shàn善
HSK 7-9

appropriate; proper

Open 妥善 page →
cí慈shàn善
HSK 7-9

benevolent

Open 慈善 page →

Related characters

More HSK 3 characters

专世丰丽义乡乱争

From 善’s common words

完于良改友意妥慈

Ready to master 善?

Trace 善 stroke by stroke in the online practice tool, or turn it into a printable worksheet PDF with Tianzige practice grids, pinyin, and stroke-order breakdowns.

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