善(ぜん)

ぜん
noun
good, virtue, goodness
1. good, virtue, goodness
Moral excellence; the quality of being morally right or beneficial.
善(ぜん)と悪(あく)の区別(くべつ)をつけることが大切(たいせつ)だ。
It's important to distinguish between good and evil.
善(ぜん)は急(いそ)げという諺(ことわざ)がある。
There's a proverb that says 'strike while the iron is hot' (lit: 'hurry to do good').
[Note: 善(ぜん)は急(いそ)げ means 'do good without delay']
彼(かれ)は善(ぜん)を行(おこな)うことを信条(しんじょう)としている。
He makes it his creed to do good.

善(ぜん) is a philosophical/moral term for goodness or virtue. It's often used in contrast with 悪(あく) (evil).

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 善(ぜん)は急(いそ)げ: strike while the iron is hot; do good without delay
  • 善(ぜん)を行(おこな)う: to do good
  • 善(ぜん)と悪(あく): good and evil

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 善意(ぜんい): good will, good intentions
  • 善行(ぜんこう): good deed
  • 善良(ぜんりょう): good-natured, virtuous
  • 改善(かいぜん): improvement
  • 偽善(ぎぜん): hypocrisy

Related Words

Antonym: 悪(あく) (evil)
general
Added 2026.1.13 8:49 · Revised 2026.2.7 22:19
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