Readings: ゼン (Onyomi), よ.い, よ.く, よし (Kunyomi)
Meaning: good, virtuous, right, proper
The kanji 善 combines 羊 (hitsuji), meaning “sheep,” which traditionally symbolizes good fortune, beauty, or auspiciousness, with a phonetic component (originally 言 “words”). The original form depicted a sheep and words, implying “good words” or “words that are virtuous and agreeable.” Over time, the lower part simplified, retaining the core meaning of goodness and virtue.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 善 consists of 12 strokes. It begins with the radical 羊 (hitsuji) at the top, followed by the lower components. Pay attention to the balance and flow, especially the vertical stroke in the middle and the final sweeping stroke. Each stroke is crucial for proper form.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 羊 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 12 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | Jouyou (Secondary School) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ゼン (zen)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- よ.い (yo.i)
- よ.く (yo.ku)
- よし (yoshi)
Common Words Using 善
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 善意 | ぜんい | good faith, good will |
| 改善 | かいぜん | improvement, amelioration |
| 偽善 | ぎぜん | hypocrisy, pretense |
| 慈善 | じぜん | charity, benevolence |
| 善悪 | ぜんあく | good and evil, right and wrong |
| 親善 | しんぜん | friendship, goodwill (e.g., international goodwill) |
| 積善 | せきぜん | accumulation of good deeds |
| 善処 | ぜんしょ | appropriate action, proper handling |
| 至善 | しぜん | supreme good |
| 性善説 | せいぜんせつ | the theory that human nature is fundamentally good |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 良い | よい | good, excellent (adjective) |
| 良く | よく | well, skillfully (adverbial form of yoi) |
| 善し悪し | よしあし | good and bad, merits and demerits |
| 善い人 | よいひと | a good person |
| 善くする | よくする | to improve, to make good |
| 善かれ悪しかれ | よかれあしかれ | for better or worse, whether good or bad |
| 善い行い | よいおこない | good deeds/actions |
| 善きにつけ悪しきにつけ | よきにつけあしきにつけ | for better or for worse, in good times and bad |
| 善し | よし | all right, okay (used as an exclamation or interjection) |
| 善からぬ | よからぬ | bad, undesirable (negative form of yoi) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼の行動は常に善意に基づいている。
Kana: かれのこうどうはつねにぜんいにもとづいている。
Romaji: Kare no kōdō wa tsune ni zen’i ni motozuite iru.
English: His actions are always based on good intentions.
Japanese: このシステムは絶えず改善されている。
Kana: このしすてむはたえずかいぜんされている。
Romaji: Kono shisutemu wa taezu kaizen sarete iru.
English: This system is constantly being improved.
Japanese: 偽善的な言動は避けたい。
Kana: ぎぜんてきなげんどうはさけたい。
Romaji: Gizen-teki na gendō wa saketai.
English: I want to avoid hypocritical words and actions.
Japanese: 彼女は生涯を慈善事業に捧げた。
Kana: かのじょはしょうがいをじぜんじぎょうにささげた。
Romaji: Kanojo wa shōgai o jizen jigyō ni sasageta.
English: She dedicated her life to charity work.
Japanese: 子供たちに善悪の区別を教える。
Kana: こどもたちにぜんあくのくべつをおしえる。
Romaji: Kodomo-tachi ni zen’aku no kubetsu o oshieru.
English: Teach children the distinction between good and evil.
Japanese: スポーツは国際親善を促進する。
Kana: すぽーつはこくさいしんぜんをそくしんする。
Romaji: Supōtsu wa kokusai shinzen o sokushin suru.
English: Sports promote international friendship.
Japanese: 日々、積善を心がけている。
Kana: ひび、せきぜんをこころがけている。
Romaji: Hibi, sekizen o kokorogakete iru.
English: I strive to accumulate good deeds daily.
Japanese: この件については、適切に善処いたします。
Kana: このけんについては、てきせつにぜんしょいたします。
Romaji: Kono ken ni tsuite wa, tekisetsu ni zensho itashimasu.
English: Regarding this matter, I will handle it appropriately.
Japanese: 良いニュースと悪いニュースがある。
Kana: よいにゅーすとわるいにゅーすがある。
Romaji: Yoi nyūsu to warui nyūsu ga aru.
English: There is good news and bad news.
Japanese: 何事も善かれ悪しかれ経験だ。
Kana: なにごともよかれあしかれけいけんである。
Romaji: Nanigoto mo yokare ashikare keiken da.
English: Everything, for better or worse, is experience.
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