JLPT N1 · 12 strokes
Kanji 善: "virtuous, good, goodness"
The kanji 善 means "virtuous, good, goodness". It is written with 12 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N1, read ゼン in on'yomi and よ.い, い.い, よ.く, よし.とする in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
ゼン
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
よ.いい.いよ.くよし.とする
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | virtuous, good, goodness |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 12 |
| JLPT level | N1 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 6 |
| Frequency rank | 765 of 2,501 |
Common words with 善
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 改善betterment; improvement · kaizen (Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement)
- 最善the very best; utmost
- 善good; goodness; right; virtue
- 善意virtuous mind · good intentions; good will
- 善良good (person, nature, etc.); good-natured; virtuous; honest
- 善人good person; virtuous person · good-natured person; gullible person
- 善悪right and wrong; good and evil
- 善くもまあjust how; how (dare you)
- 善処dealing appropriately (with a situation); taking proper measures; handling (an issue) carefully; making the best of (a bad bargain)
- 偽善hypocrisy
- 最善を尽くすto do one's best; to do something to the best of one's ability
- 善行good deed; good conduct; benevolence
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