善 shàn good
good; virtuous; charitable; kind; good at something; to improve or perfect
How it came to be
A sheep over the words block, twice. In the oldest forms, two people argue a case with a sheep between them as the prize. Settling it well is what the word means.
How it is used
- 善于 (shànyú) + verb means "good at" doing something, e.g. 他善于交际 (tā shànyú jiāojì): he's good at socializing; more literary than the everyday 擅长 (shàncháng).
- 善良 (shànliáng) is a common adjective describing a kind, good-hearted person.
- As a suffix it means "to improve/perfect": 完善 (wánshàn), to make comprehensive, 改善 (gǎishàn), to improve conditions.
- 慈善 (císhàn), charitable, as in 慈善机构 (císhàn jīgòu), charity organization.