HSK · Level 112
45 words
Chinese word
善
Pronunciation
Pinyinshàn
Meaning
- noungoodness
Example
他心中充满了善。tā xīn zhōng chōng mǎn le shàn
His heart is full of goodness.
More examples
他对陌生人总是存善心。tā duì mò shēng rén zǒng shì cún shàn xīn
He always has good intentions toward strangers.
Core concept
A moral inner compass that inclines a person toward kindness and right action.
Common phrases
存善心cún shàn xīn
have good intentions
行善事xíng shàn shì
do good deeds
辨别善恶biàn bié shàn è
distinguish good from evil
Similar words
美德měi dé: A virtue shown in a person's admirable character or conduct.
善行shàn xíng: An act of kindness or moral goodness done for others or society.
善意shàn yì: A well-meaning attitude that seeks what is good for another person.
好心hǎo xīn: A warm and caring feeling that motivates someone to help.
Definition in Chinese
指内心温和、愿意为他人付出和行正当行为的品性。zhǐ nèi xīn wēn hé yuàn yì wèi tā rén fù chū hé xíng zhèng dāng xíng wéi de pǐn xìng
Word origin
善 (shàn, "goodness") develops from the basic sense "good" into a noun for moral excellence and benevolent conduct.
Usage tips
- In everyday conversation, the standalone noun sounds formal or literary, so casual personal descriptions usually use a more conversational expression.