善 Goodness in Chinese (shàn)

Dictionary Summary

善 (shàn) means good (virtuous); benevolent; well-disposed. Simplified form has 12 strokes under radical 口.

Pinyin & Toneshàn (Tone 4)

Simplified / Trad.善 / 善

Radical口

Total Strokes12 strokes

StructureTop–Bottom (羊 + 丷 + 一 + 口)

Unicode / LevelU+5584 · HSK 4

Native Naming & Tattoo Safety Review

🪪 Using “善” in a Chinese Name · Highly Recommended (Unisex)

Gentle, virtuous, and cultured (e.g., 善若, 怀善, 善宁). Frequently appears in classical idioms and conveys quiet moral warmth.

✒️ Using “善” for a Tattoo · Safe & Classic

Symmetrical 12-stroke calligraphy structure with universally positive meaning in Confucian and Buddhist traditions.

Character Etymology & CC-CEDICT Meanings

Origin & Visual Logic: Derived from sheep (羊, symbolizing auspiciousness and gentleness) combined with speech elements—kind, auspicious words and conduct.

Traditional / Simplified	Pinyin	CC-CEDICT Definitions
善 / 善	shàn	good (virtuous); benevolent; well-disposed

Lexical entries derived from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Make Me a Hanzi (APL / LGPL-3.0).

Common Words & Idioms Using “善”

Chinese Word	Pinyin	English Meaning
善良	shànliáng	kindhearted
友善	yǒushàn	friendly and kind
至善	zhìshàn	supreme goodness

English Names Using “善” in Our Curated Recommendations

See how native speakers pair 善 (shàn) into modern Chinese names:

何嘉善Hannah (Hé Jiā shàn)陈明善Eleanor (Chén Míng shàn)安善宁Rachel (Ān Shàn níng)戴善和David (Dài Shàn hé)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does the Chinese character "善" (shàn) have?

"善" has 12 strokes in Simplified Chinese. Its primary dictionary radical is 口, and you can animate or practice writing every stroke in order using the interactive grid on this page.

Is "善" good to use in a real Chinese name?

Rating: Highly Recommended (Unisex). Gentle, virtuous, and cultured (e.g., 善若, 怀善, 善宁). Frequently appears in classical idioms and conveys quiet moral warmth.