善意
shànyì · HSK 7
good intention
🤝 善 (good) + 意 (intention) = good intention, benevolence
善 means good or kind; 意 means intention, meaning, or will. Together: acting with kind intent — good faith and benevolence toward others.
善 — sheep 羊 over 言 (speech), simplified to 善
Originally written with 羊 (sheep, auspicious) above two 言 (speech) elements, depicting auspicious or kind words. The form was simplified to one mouth-like base under 羊. The meaning shifted from 'auspicious speech' to the broader senses 'good, virtuous, skilled at.'