改善
gǎishàn · HSK 4
improve
✨ 改 = change/alter + 善 = good; literally 'change to good' = improve
改 (gǎi) means to change or revise; 善 (shàn) means good or virtuous. Together: revise toward the good. Same 善 as 善良 (kind) and 慈善 (charity).
改 — 己 (self) + 攴/攵 (action/strike)
改 is a compound of 己 'self' and 攵 (the action radical, originally a hand holding a stick). The image is of striking or applying force to oneself or one's situation, suggesting reform or correction. From this came the modern meaning 'to change, alter, correct'.
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.'