HSK 5

善于

shàn yú

to be good at; to be adept at

HSK 5 — —

Character Breakdown

善

shàn · good, virtuous, charitable, kind

Radical: 口 · 12strokes

Stroke order animation for 善

于

yú · at, in, on

Radical: 二 · 3strokes

Stroke order animation for 于

Usage of 善于

The phrase 善于 (shàn yú) is used to express someone's skill or aptitude in a particular area. It often precedes a verb or verb phrase to indicate what the person is good at doing.

Common Collocations

  • 善于解决 (good at solving): used when referring to problem-solving skills.
  • 善于沟通 (good at communicating): highlights interpersonal skills.
  • 善于利用 (good at utilizing): often used for managing resources like time or opportunities.

Nuances

Using 善于 implies not just ability but a certain proficiency or natural talent. It is more formal and positive than simply saying 会 (can). It is often used in professional or academic contexts.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse 善于 with 会, which simply means 'can' or 'know how to.' 善于 emphasizes skillfulness and effectiveness rather than just capability.

Example Sentences

他善于解决复杂的问题。

Tā shànyú jiějué fùzá de wèntí.

He is good at solving complex problems.

她善于与人沟通，所以很受欢迎。

Tā shànyú yǔ rén gōutōng, suǒyǐ hěn shòu huānyíng.

She is good at communicating with people, so she is very popular.

他善于利用时间，总能高效完成任务。

Tā shànyú lìyòng shíjiān, zǒng néng gāoxiào wánchéng rènwù.

He is good at managing time and can always complete tasks efficiently.