Sinograph Addenda · Signs

善good · shàn · good; to be good at

good

Where it comes from

The sheep-sign stands over a speech element — in the oldest forms, over two of them. The sheep was the old script’s shorthand for the mild and auspicious, so gentle words became “the good” itself, and from there “good at.” Taught in the like-and-alike chapter.

How to remember it

The sheep’s head with its little horns on top, a mouth 口mouth · kǒu · mouth; an opening at the bottom: words gentle as a lamb — good.

In the wild