善: the kanji for good
善 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means good. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
善 is written in 12 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
善 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 4 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ゼン (zen)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 改善かいぜん · kaizen | improvement |
| 最善さいぜん · saizen | best |
| 善悪ぜんあく · zen'aku | good and evil … |
よい (yoi)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 善いよい · yoi | good (morally) |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 仕事のやり方を改善した。Shigoto no yarikata o kaizen shita.We improved the way we work.
- 最善を尽くします。Saizen o tsukushimasu.I will do my best.
- …子どもに善悪を教える。Kodomo ni zen'aku o oshieru.We teach children right from wrong.
- 善い行いをすると気持ちがいい。Yoi okonai o suru to kimochi ga ii.Doing good deeds feels good.
- 善は急げ。Zen wa isoge.Strike while the iron is hot.
Questions about 善
How many strokes does 善 have?
善 is written in 12 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 善?
The on readings are zen (ゼン). The kun readings are yoi (よい).
What JLPT level is 善?
N1. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 kanji
Qualities and conditions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 善
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.