善 Kanji – virtuous
The Japanese kanji 善 can mean virtuous, good, goodness.
Meaning and Readings
How is 善 read?
善 has the onyomi reading ゼン and the kunyomi readings よい, いい, よく, よしとする.
In romaji, these readings can be written as zen, yoi, ii, yoku, yoshitosuru.
Common Japanese Words Using 善
These common Japanese words contain 善. Select linked kanji to explore their meanings and readings.
- 改善（かいぜん） — betterment, improvement
- 勧善懲悪（かんぜんちょうあく） — rewarding good and punishing evil, poetic justice
- 最善（さいぜん） — the very best, utmost
- 慈善（じぜん） — charity, benevolence, philanthropy
- 親善（しんぜん） — friendship, goodwill, friendly relations, amity
- 善（ぜん） — good, goodness, right, virtue
- 善悪（ぜんあく） — right and wrong, good and evil
- 善意（ぜんい） — virtuous mind
- 善戦（ぜんせん） — fighting a good fight, putting up a good fight, fighting bravely
- 善良（ぜんりょう） — good (person, nature, etc.), good-natured, virtuous, honest