善

See also: 譱

善	U+5584, 善 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5584

← 喃
[U+5583]

CJK Unified Ideographs

喅 →
[U+5585]

善	U+2F845, 善 CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-2F845

← 啣
[U+2F844]

CJK Compatibility Ideographs Supplement

善 →
[U+2F846]

善	U+2F846, 善 CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-2F846

← 善
[U+2F845]

CJK Compatibility Ideographs Supplement

喙 →
[U+2F847]

Han character

善 (Kangxi radical 30, 口+9, 12 strokes, cangjie input 廿土廿口 (TGTR) or 廿廿口 (TTR), four-corner 8060₅, composition ⿻羊⿱䒑口 or ⿳𦍌䒑口)

Derived characters

僐, 𠾺, 墡, 嫸, 𢢆, 𢵈, 㵛, 𮥣, 𨗚, 𪱋, 橏, 𣩧, 㷽, 𤩕, 𥛶, 膳, 𦏎, 𥊳, 磰, 𮃬, 𮖯, 𫅜, 繕(缮), 𦗢, 蟮, 𭀺, 𧬆, 𮜖, 𨣁, 𬹎, 𫅞, 鐥(䦅), 𡅐, 饍, 𩦐, 𫅡, 鱔(鳝), 𪍶, 𭨔
𡆃, 𠟤, 鄯, 𭟽, 㪨, 敾, 歚, 𬙽, 𭌠, 𬙿, 𡄰, 𩕊(𬱱), 𬚁, 𬞗, 𤺪

References

Kangxi Dictionary: page 197, character 18
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 3904
Dae Jaweon: page 418, character 38
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 660, character 2
Unihan data for U+5584
Unihan data for U+2F845
Unihan data for U+2F846

More information trad., simp. # ...

trad.		善
simp. ^#		善
alternative forms		譱𠲘𠵊𠾄𦎍譱𠲘𠵊𠾄𦎍𦏟𦏯𧨅𧬆𧮟

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Glyph origin

More information Historical forms of the character 善, Western Zhou ...

Historical forms of the character 善
Western Zhou	Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

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More information Old Chinese ...

	Old Chinese
橏	*tjenʔ
嫸	*tjenʔ
善	*ɡjenʔ
譱	*ɡjenʔ
蟮	*djanʔ
鱔	*djanʔ
僐	djenʔ, djens
鄯	djenʔ, djens
墡	*djenʔ
磰	*djenʔ
繕	*ɡjens
膳	*djens
饍	*djens

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Characters in the same phonetic series (善) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

Originally written 譱 in bronze inscriptions, consisting of two 言 (OC *ŋan) and one 羊. The 言 (OC *ŋan) might have served as the phonetic component, while 羊 represented the sense "good; beautiful". The small seal script of 善 was simplified from the bronze inscription form, consisting of one 言 below one 羊.

According to Shuowen, the form 譱 is an ideogrammic compound (會意／会意) : 誩 (“to wrangle”) + 羊 (“sheep”) – good; virtuous. This interpretation may be difficult to comprehend.

Etymology

Probably related to 繕 (OC *ɡjens, “to mend; to repair”).

Pronunciation

More information Rime, Character ...

Rime
Character	善
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	常 (25)
Final (韻)	仙 (77)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	常演切
Baxter	dzyenX
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/d͡ʑiᴇn^X/
Pan Wuyun	/d͡ʑiɛn^X/
Shao Rongfen	/d͡ʑjæn^X/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/d͡ʑian^X/
Li Rong	/ʑiɛn^X/
Wang Li	/ʑĭɛn^X/
Bernard Karlgren	/ʑi̯ɛn^X/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	shàn
Expected Cantonese Reflex	sin⁶

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More information Character, Reading # ...

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	善
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	shàn
Middle Chinese	‹ dzyen^X ›
Old Chinese	/*[ɡ]e[n]ʔ/
English	good
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

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More information Zhengzhang system (2003), Character ...

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	善
Reading #	1/1
No.	11084
Phonetic component	善
Rime group	元
Rime subdivision	2
Corresponding MC rime	善
Old Chinese	/*ɡjenʔ/

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Mandarin
(Pinyin): shàn (shan⁴)

(Zhuyin): ㄕㄢˋ
Cantonese
(Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): sin⁶

(Taishan, Wiktionary): sen⁵
Hakka (Sixian, PFS): san
Jin (Wiktionary): san³
Northern Min (KCR): sīng
Eastern Min (BUC): siêng
Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): seng⁵
Southern Min
(Hokkien, POJ): siān

(Teochew, Peng'im): siêng⁶ / siang⁶
Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁶zoe

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: shàn
  - Zhuyin: ㄕㄢˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: shàn
  - Wade–Giles: shan⁴
  - Yale: shàn
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shann
  - Palladius: шань (šanʹ)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂän⁵¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
  - Jyutping: sin⁶
  - Yale: sihn
  - Cantonese Pinyin: sin⁶
  - Guangdong Romanization: xin⁶
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /siːn²²/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: sen⁵
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sen³²/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: san
  - Hakka Romanization System: san
  - Hagfa Pinyim: san⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /san⁵⁵/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: san³
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /sæ̃⁴⁵/
Northern Min
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: sīng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /siŋ⁵⁵/
Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: siêng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /siɛŋ²⁴²/
Puxian Min
- (Putian, Xianyou)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: seng⁵
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɬɛŋ²¹/
Southern Min
- (Hokkien)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siān
  - Tâi-lô: siān
  - Phofsit Daibuun: sien
  - IPA (Xiamen): /siɛn²²/
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /siɛn⁴¹/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /siɛn²²/
  - IPA (Taipei): /siɛn³³/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /siɛn³³/
- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: siêng⁶ / siang⁶
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: siĕng / siăng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sieŋ³⁵/, /siaŋ³⁵/

Note: siêng6 - Chaozhou.

Wu
- (Northern: Shanghai)
  - Wugniu: ⁶zoe
  - MiniDict: zoe^去
  - Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³zoe
  - Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /zø²³/

Middle Chinese: dzyenX

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*[ɡ]e[n]ʔ/

(Zhengzhang): /*ɡjenʔ/

Definitions

善

good; virtuous; charitable; kind
Antonym: 惡／恶

善事 ― shànshì ― good deed; charitable deed
- 人之初，性本善。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
  From: Three Character Classic, circa 13^th century CE
  Rén zhī chū, xìng běn shàn. [Pinyin]
  Men at their birth, are naturally good.
- 子曰：「善人為邦百年，亦可以勝殘去殺矣。誠哉是言也！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  子曰：「善人为邦百年，亦可以胜残去杀矣。诚哉是言也！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE
  Zǐyuē: “Shànrén wéi bāng bǎinián, yì kěyǐ shèngcánqùshā yǐ. Chéng zāi shì yán yě!” [Pinyin]
  The Master said, "'If good men were to govern a country in succession for a hundred years, they would be able to transform the violently bad, and dispense with capital punishments.' True indeed is this saying!"
good; fine; desirable
善策 ― shàncè ― good solution
- 其間名山水而州者以百數，永最善。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  其间名山水而州者以百数，永最善。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: c. 9th century, Liu Zongyuan, 遊黃溪記
  Qíjiān míng shānshuǐ ér zhōu zhě yǐ bǎi shù, Yǒng zuì shàn. [Pinyin]
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
1. (literary) to regard as good
  - 王如善之，則何為不行？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
    王如善之，则何为不行？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
    From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE
    Wáng rú shàn zhī, zé héwéi bù xíng? [Pinyin]
    Since your Majesty deems them excellent, why do you not practise them?
good deed
行善 ― xíngshàn ― to do good deeds
to be good at
善交際／善交际 ― shàn jiāojì ― to be a mixer

能歌善舞 ― nénggēshànwǔ ― to be good at singing and dancing
- 故善附民者，是乃善用兵者也。故兵要在乎善附民而已。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
  From: The Art of War, circa 5^th century BCE
  Gù shàn fù mín zhě, shì nǎi shàn yòngbīng zhě yě. Gù bīng yào zàihū shàn fù mín éryǐ. [Pinyin]
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
easily
善變／善变 ― shànbiàn ― to be changeable; to be prone or apt to change

善忘 ― shànwàng ― forgetful
appropriately; all out; earnestly
善用 ― shànyòng ― to use properly

善自珍重 ― shàn zì zhēnzhòng ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
to be friendly with; to be on friendly terms with
- 夷吾善鮑叔牙。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  夷吾善鲍叔牙。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE
  Yíwú shàn Bào Shūyá. [Pinyin]
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- 其後秦欲伐齊，齊、楚之交善，惠王患之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  其后秦欲伐齐，齐、楚之交善，惠王患之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5^th – 3^rd centuries BCE
  Qíhòu Qín yù fá Qí, Qí, chǔ zhī jiāo shàn, Huì Wáng huàn zhī. [Pinyin]
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
(literary) to like
- 亦余心之所善兮，雖九死其猶未悔。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  亦余心之所善兮，虽九死其犹未悔。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Verses of Chu, 4^th century BCE – 2^nd century CE
  Yì yú xīn zhī suǒ shàn xī, suī jiǔ sǐ qí yóuwèi huǐ. [Pinyin]
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
(literary) Used to express agreement or commendation.; Good!
- 孟獻子曰：「請城虎牢以偪鄭。」知武子曰：「善。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  孟献子曰：「请城虎牢以偪郑。」知武子曰：「善。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE, translation from Zuozhuan: Commentary on the "Spring and Autumn Annals" (2017), by Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li and David Schaberg
  Mèng Xiànzǐ yuē: “Qǐng chéng Hǔláo yǐ bī Zhèng.” Zhī Wǔzǐ yuē: “Shàn.” [Pinyin]
  Meng Xianzi said, "I request that Hulao be fortified to exert pressure on Zheng." Zhi Ying said, "Excellent."
(Taishanese, euphemistic) to die
去善 [Taishanese] ― hui¹ sen⁵ [Wiktionary] ― go to hell

Synonyms

More information Variety, Location ...

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		好, 良, 善, 佳
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		好, 良好, 美好, 佳
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	好, 強
	Taiwan	好
	Singapore	好
Jilu Mandarin	Jinan	好, 賽, 強
Central Plains Mandarin	Xi'an	好, 嫽
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	好
Southwestern Mandarin	Wuhan	好, 傲
Jianghuai Mandarin	Yangzhou	好
Jianghuai Mandarin	Hefei	好, 㜺
Cantonese	Guangzhou	好, 㜺
	Hong Kong	好
	Taishan	好
	Yangjiang	好
	Singapore (Guangfu)	好
Gan	Nanchang	好
Hakka	Meixian	好, 㜺
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	好
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	好
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	好
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	好
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	好
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	好
Jin	Taiyuan	好
Northern Min	Jian'ou	好
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	好
Southern Min	Xiamen	好
	Tainan	好
	Penang (Hokkien)	好
	Singapore (Hokkien)	好
	Manila (Hokkien)	好
	Chaozhou	好
	Singapore (Teochew)	好
	Singapore (Hainanese)	好
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi)	好
Wu	Shanghai	好, 㜺, 靈, 嗲
	Shanghai (Songjiang)	畢㜺
	Shanghai (Chuansha, Pudong)	出客
	Shanghai (Nanhui, Pudong)	出客
	Shanghai (Fengxian)	靈
	Shanghai (Jinshan)	靈
	Suzhou	好, 㜺
	Wenzhou	好
Xiang	Changsha	好
Xiang	Shuangfeng	好

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Dialectal synonyms of 好 (“good”) [map]

Compounds

三善道
不善 (bùshàn)
不得善終／不得善终 (bùdéshànzhōng)
乏善可陳／乏善可陈 (fáshànkěchén)
人善得人欺，馬善得人騎／人善得人欺，马善得人骑 (rén shàn dé rén qī, mǎ shàn dé rén qí)
伏善
伐善
來者不善／来者不善
偽善／伪善 (wěishàn)
公善 (gōngshàn)
兼善
兼善天下
勸善／劝善 (quànshàn)
勸善懲惡／劝善惩恶 (quànshànchéng'è)
勸善戒惡／劝善戒恶
勸善規過／劝善规过
勸善黜惡／劝善黜恶
十善
友善 (yǒushàn)
向善 (xiàngshàn)
和善 (héshàn)
善事 (shànshì)
善人 (shànrén)
善信 (shànxìn)
善價／善价
善刀而藏
善化 (Shànhuà)
善哉 (shànzāi)
善善從長／善善从长
善善惡惡／善善恶恶
善堂 (shàntáng)
善報／善报 (shànbào)
善士 (shànshì)
善女 (shànnǚ)
善始令終／善始令终
善始善終／善始善终
善導／善导
善巧便佞
善待 (shàndài)
善後／善后 (shànhòu)
善心 (shànxīn)
善心人士 (shànxīn rénshì)
善惡／善恶 (shàn'è)
善意 (shànyì)
善感 (shàngǎn)
善戰／善战 (shànzhàn)
善才
善才童子
善政 (shànzhèng)
善敗／善败
善於／善于 (shànyú)
善書／善书
善本 (shànběn)
善果 (shànguǒ)
善柔
善根 (shàngēn)
善棍
善歲／善岁
善氣迎人／善气迎人
善用 (shànyòng)
善男信女 (shànnán xìnnǚ)
善知識／善知识 (shànzhīshí)
善終／善终 (shànzhōng)
善緣／善缘
善罷干休
善罷甘休／善罢甘休 (shànbàgānxiū)
善自為謀／善自为谋
善與人交／善与人交
善舉／善举 (shànjǔ)
善良 (shànliáng)
善行 (shànxíng)
善解人意 (shànjiěrényì)
善變／善变 (shànbiàn)
善財／善财 (Shàncái)
善財難捨／善财难舍
善賈／善贾
善賈而沽／善贾而沽
善門難開／善门难开
善靈／善灵 (shànlíng)
善頌善禱／善颂善祷
善類／善类 (shànlèi)
善馬熟人／善马熟人
嘉言善行
多多益善 (duōduōyìshàn)
多愁善感 (duōchóushàngǎn)
多謀善斷／多谋善断
多財善賈／多财善贾
多錢善賈／多钱善贾
好善嫉惡／好善嫉恶
好善惡惡／好善恶恶
好善樂施／好善乐施
好施樂善／好施乐善
好謀善斷／好谋善断
妥善 (tuǒshàn)
妙善 (miàoshàn)
妙善公主
嫉惡好善／嫉恶好善
守死善道
完善 (wánshàn)
宿善
寸善片長／寸善片长
履中行善
巧言善色
平善
廣結善緣／广结善缘
廣行善事／广行善事
彰善癉惡／彰善瘅恶
從善如流／从善如流 (cóngshànrúliú)
從善若流／从善若流
循循善誘／循循善诱 (xúnxúnshànyòu)
心善 (xīnshàn)
性善說／性善说 (xìngshànshuō)
恂恂善誘／恂恂善诱
慈善 (císhàn)
慈善事業／慈善事业
慈善家 (císhànjiā)
慈善機構／慈善机构 (císhàn jīgòu)
慈眉善目 (címéishànmù)
懲惡勸善／惩恶劝善 (chéng'èquànshàn)
懲惡獎善／惩恶奖善
扶善懲惡／扶善惩恶
抑惡揚善／抑恶扬善
掩惡揚善／掩恶扬善
掩賢妒善／掩贤妒善
推賢樂善／推贤乐善
推賢舉善／推贤举善
推賢進善／推贤进善
擇善固執／择善固执 (zéshàngùzhí)
擇善而從／择善而从
擇善而行／择善而行
攘善
改善 (gǎishàn)
改惡向善／改恶向善
改惡從善／改恶从善 (gǎi'ècóngshàn)
改惡行善／改恶行善
改行遷善／改行迁善
改過向善／改过向善
改過從善／改过从善
改過遷善／改过迁善
旌善懲惡／旌善惩恶
日行一善 (rìxíngyīshàn)
明德止善
明眸善睞／明眸善睐
是非善惡／是非善恶
服善
樂善／乐善 (lèshàn)
樂善不倦／乐善不倦
樂善好施／乐善好施 (lèshànhàoshī)
樂善好義／乐善好义
欺善怕惡／欺善怕恶 (qīshànpà'è)
止惡揚善／止恶扬善 (zhǐ'èyángshàn)
止於至善／止于至善 (zhǐyúzhìshàn)
武不善作
殘賢害善／残贤害善
洪善 (Hóngshàn)
淑善君子 (shū shàn jūnzǐ)
為善／为善 (wéishàn)
為善最樂／为善最乐 (wéishàn zuì lè)
片善
片善小才
獨善／独善
獨善其身／独善其身
疾惡好善／疾恶好善
癉惡彰善／瘅恶彰善
盡善盡美／尽善尽美 (jìnshànjìnměi)
盡美盡善／尽美尽善
真善美 (zhēn-shàn-měi)
眾口稱善／众口称善
矜功伐善
知人善任 (zhīrénshànrèn)
福善禍淫／福善祸淫 (fúshànhuòyín)
積善／积善 (jīshàn)
積善之家，必有餘慶／积善之家，必有余庆 (jīshàn zhī jiā, bì yǒu yúqìng)
積善餘慶／积善余庆
美善 (měishàn)
聖善／圣善
能文善武
能言善辯／能言善辩 (néngyánshànbiàn)
能言善道
能說善道／能说善道
至善 (zhìshàn)
至善至美
與人為善／与人为善 (yǔrénwéishàn)
良善 (liángshàn)
英勇善戰／英勇善战
蒲邑三善
行善 (xíngshàn)
褒善貶惡／褒善贬恶
親善／亲善 (qīnshàn)
親善大使／亲善大使
諄諄善誘／谆谆善诱
諱過稱善／讳过称善
謙善／谦善
責善／责善
賞善罰惡／赏善罚恶
贊善／赞善
軟善／软善
遏惡揚善／遏恶扬善
遷善／迁善
遷善改過／迁善改过
遷善遠罪／迁善远罪
鄯善 (Shànshàn)
長袖善舞／长袖善舞 (chángxiùshànwǔ)
除惡扶善／除恶扶善
隱惡揚善／隐恶扬善 (yǐn'èyángshàn)
面善 (miànshàn)
面善心惡／面善心恶
面善心狠 (miànshàn xīnhěn)
面惡心善／面恶心善 (miàn è xīn shàn)
首善
首善之區／首善之区 (shǒushànzhīqū)
首善之地 (shǒushànzhīdì)
馴善／驯善
騎者善墮／骑者善堕
點頭稱善／点头称善

References

“善”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

Kanji

善

(Sixth grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

Etymology

More information Kanji in this term ...

Kanji in this term
善
ぜん Grade: 6
goon

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From Middle Chinese 善 (MC dzyenX).

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) ぜん [zéꜜǹ] (Atamadaka – [1])
IPA^(key): [d͡zẽ̞ɴ]

Noun

善(ぜん) • (zen)

good, good deed
Antonym: 悪 (aku)
- 1946, 三木清, 親鸞‎, 青空文庫:
  
  外(そと)においてどれほど善(ぜん)を行(おこ)なおうとしても、悪心(あくしん)は絶(た)えず裏(うら)から潜(ひそ)んでくる。
  Soto ni oite dore hodo zen o okonaō to shite mo, akushin wa taezu ura kara hisonde kuru.
  No matter how much good one tries to do outside, evil thoughts will always come lurking from behind it.

Derived terms

善(ぜん)に従(したが)うこと流(なが)るるが如(ごと)し (zen ni shitagau koto nagaruru ga gotoshi)
善(ぜん)に強(つよ)い者(もの)は悪(あく)にも強(つよ)い (zen ni tsuyoi mono wa aku ni mo tsuyoi)
善(ぜん)の裏(うら)は悪(あく) (zen no ura wa aku)
善(ぜん)の綱(つな) (zen no tsuna)
善(ぜん)は急(いそ)げ (zen wa isoge)
善(ぜん)を責(せ)むるは朋友(ほうゆう)の道(みち)なり (zen o semuru wa hōyū no michi nari)

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Middle Korean readings, if any”)

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [sʰʌ̹n]
Phonetic hangul: [선]