善
善·good, virtuous, goodness, improve
- On-yomi
- ゼン
- Kun-yomi
- よ(い)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 改善 | かいぜん | improvement |
| 最善 | さいぜん | the best, one's utmost |
| 親善 | しんぜん | friendship, goodwill |
| 善悪 | ぜんあく | good and evil, right and wrong |
Example sentences
作業の手順を改善した。
さぎょうのてじゅんをかいぜんした。
We improved the work procedure.
私たちは最善を尽くします。
わたしたちはさいぜんをつくします。
We will do our very best.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Using 善い where 良い is meant — in modern writing よい is normally 良い; 善 is for moral goodness
- Mixing 善意 (goodwill, good faith) with 好意 (kindly feeling toward someone)
Memory aid
Picture it
A sheep 羊 over a mouth 口: the gentlest animal and plain speech together — goodness in both character and word.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 善悪ぜんあくgood and evil
- 善処ぜんしょhandling appropriately
- 最善さいぜんthe very best; the best possible (course of action)
- 善し悪しよしあしgood or bad; right and wrong; merits and demerits; (of a thing) being a mixed blessing
- 善良ぜんりょうgoodness; excellence; virtue
- 親善しんぜんfriendship; goodwill (between nations or groups)
- 改善するかいぜんするto improve
- 改善かいぜんimprovement, betterment (of something faulty)
- 善ぜんgood, goodness, virtue
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 善 mean?