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善

virtuous
Stroke count: 12

Readings

On readingゼン
Kun readingよ.い、い.い、よ.く、よし.とする
JLPT level: N2JōyōGrade 6

Meanings

  1. virtuousRtK
  2. good
    彼は馬の善し悪しを見る目は確かだ。He is a good judge of horses.tatoeba
    彼は善良な少年だ。そして、さらによいことには、非常に美男だ。He is a good boy, and what is better, very handsome.tatoeba
  3. goodness
    彼は善良そのものである。He is the epitome of goodness.tatoeba

Popular Usage

改善

Radicals and components

Radical口mouth囗variant
Components
How it's built
善
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Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

sheep (羊) · horns · mouth (口)

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 1112

Compound words

改善かいぜん
betterment; improvement; kaizen (Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement)
改善するかいぜんする
to improve; to make better
最善さいぜん
the very best; utmost
慈善じぜん
charity; benevolence; philanthropy
親善しんぜん
friendship; goodwill; friendly relations; amity
善悪ぜんあく
right and wrong; good and evil
善意ぜんい
virtuous mind; good intentions; good will; positive mindset; bona fides
善戦ぜんせん
fighting a good fight; putting up a good fight; fighting bravely
善良ぜんりょう
good (person, nature, etc.); good-natured; virtuous; honest
善隣ぜんりん
good neighbour; good neighbor
勧善懲悪かんぜんちょうあく
rewarding good and punishing evil; poetic justice
偽善ぎぜん
hypocrisy
善哉ぜんざい
well done!
善逝ぜんぜい
Sugata (the well-gone; epithet of Buddha)
偽善者ぎぜんしゃ
hypocrite
慈善家じぜんか
charitable person
慈善会じぜんかい
philanthropic society
慈善鍋じぜんなべ
charity pot
善がるよがる
to satisfy oneself
善智識ぜんちしき
friend who guides one to Buddhism through teaching
善の研究ぜんのけんきゅう
A Study of Good (1911 philosophical treatise by Kitarō Nishida)
善哉善哉ぜんざいぜんざい
well done!
善隣友好ぜんりんゆうこう
neighbourly friendship
勧善懲悪劇かんぜんちょうあくげき
morality play

Additional Examples

彼は病院を建て、アフリカの人民がその生活を改善するのに助力した。
He built hospitals and helped the people of Africa improve their lives.tatoeba

Stroke Order

12 strokes

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 善

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step