妥善
tuǒshàn · HSK 7
appropriate
✅ 妥 (proper) + 善 (good/well) = handled the proper, good way
妥善 stacks two synonyms for doing right: 妥 means settled or proper, 善 means good or well. Together they describe arranging something appropriately and well — a proper, thorough handling. Often paired with 处理 (chǔlǐ) as 妥善处理, to deal with properly.
妥 — claw 爫 on top + woman 女 below
妥 depicts a hand (爫) resting on a woman (女), originally suggesting calming or settling someone down. From this came the meanings 'peaceful,' 'secure,' and 'appropriate.' Today it mainly means 'proper' or 'satisfactory,' as in 妥当 (proper) and 妥协 (compromise).
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.'