善 (shàn): meaning and use in a Chinese name
The character 善, pronounced shàn, means "good, virtuous, charitable, kind". It has 12 strokes and belongs to the ⼝ radical (No.30). Below: what it means, how it is built, the words it appears in, and how it works in a name.
Quick facts
| Character | 善 |
| Pinyin | shàn |
| Meaning | good, virtuous, charitable, kind |
| Strokes | 12 |
| Radical | ⼝ (No. 30) |
| HSK level | newest-7 |
What 善 means
good, virtuous, charitable, kind. This is the sense recorded in the Unihan database; in a name it carries that meaning into the person’s name.
The character's structure
善 is written with 12 strokes under the ⼝ radical (No.30). Stroke count matters for two reasons: in naming it affects how the character balances with its pair, and in design it determines the minimum size at which the character stays legible. Characters with fewer, longer strokes hold up better at small sizes than dense ones.
Common words with 善
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 改善 | gǎi shàn | to make better; to improve | newest-5 |
| 慈善 | cí shàn | benevolent | newest-7 |
| 善良 | shàn liáng | good and honest | newest-5 |
| 善于 | shàn yú | to be good at; to be adept at | newest-5 |
| 完善 | wán shàn | (of systems, facilities etc) comprehensive | newest-5 |
| 善意 | shàn yì | goodwill | newest-7 |
Words and levels from the HSK vocabulary list; meanings from CC-CEDICT.
Characters sharing the ⼝ radical
These characters share the ⼝ radical, which is one of the components the Kangxi dictionary uses to classify characters.
Using 善 in a Chinese name
善 carries a positive, explainable meaning, which is what a name character should do. When you pair it, choose a second character with a complementary meaning and a different tone — repeated tones sound clumsy. Then say the full name with the family name aloud and listen for unintended homophones.
Name combinations
Each combination pairs 善 with a common surname. The best choice depends on the full name's sound and meaning.
Frequently asked questions
What does 善 mean?
善 (shàn) means “good, virtuous, charitable, kind”.
How do you pronounce 善?
善 is pronounced shàn in Mandarin.
How many strokes does 善 have?
善 has 12 strokes, with the radical ⼝ (30).
Is 善 suitable for a Chinese name?
Yes — 善 is used in given names, and it appears in everyday words such as 改善、慈善、善良. Whether it reads more masculine or feminine depends on the character it is paired with.
What characters pair well with 善?
Pair it with a character of complementary meaning and a different tone. Say the full name aloud with the surname before deciding.
Get a name built from your birth date and Five Elements, with the meaning of every character.
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Character data: Unihan (Unicode) · words: HSK vocabulary & CC-CEDICT · How we verify this