善

shàn
#748 most
frequent character
good (virtuous), benevolent

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

善 shàn once joined 羊, a sheep, with 言 yán for the sound, and first meant food or a meal, now written 膳. From that came 'good, desirable qualities'. It then grew to 'to be good at' and to moral goodness.

善 as a component in other characters

sound5 characters
膳缮蟮鳝鄯

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Homophones

扇shàn
fan, leaf, (measure word)

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