善良
shànliáng · HSK 4
good and kind
😇 善 = goodness/virtue + 良 = fine/excellent — doubled-up 'good'
Two near-synonyms stacked for emphasis: 善 (shàn) means morally good or kind, and 良 (liáng) means fine or virtuous. Together they describe someone whose kindness is their defining trait — decent through and through.
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.'
良 — pictograph of a covered grain hopper
良 originated as a pictograph of a funnel-shaped device used to clean or sift grain, with a top opening, central body, and bottom outlet. From this image of selecting good grain, the meaning extended to 'fine,' 'good,' or 'excellent.' The modern shape obscures the original object.