善于

• Pinyin: shàn yú
• Hanzi breakdown: 善 = 羊 (sheep/gentle) + components suggesting virtue — good, skilled; 于 = function word indicating scope — at, in

Meaning

To be good at; to excel at. Indicates proficiency in a particular area.

More formal than 擅长. Always followed by a verb phrase describing the skill, not a bare noun. Common in resumes, evaluations, and formal descriptions of abilities. The object is usually an activity or abstract skill.

Examples

1. 她善于和不同的人打交道。 She is good at dealing with different kinds of people.
2. 这位老师善于用故事来讲解知识。 This teacher excels at using stories to explain concepts.
3. 善于学习的人进步总是很快。 People who are good at learning always make quick progress.

Usage Guide

Context: evaluation, formal description, education

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他很善于表达自己的想法。(He is very good at expressing his ideas.)
• 善于观察是成功的关键之一。(Being good at observation is one of the keys to success.)

Don't Say

• 他善于篮球 meaning 'he is good at basketball' (善于 must be followed by a verb phrase, not a noun — say 他善于打篮球 or use 擅长篮球)

Origin & History

Compound of 善 (good, skilled) and 于 (at, in) — literally 'good at', indicating proficiency.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal