贤 meaning and stroke order
Virtuous, worthy; good, able
How to write 贤, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 贤
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- worthy or virtuous person
- honorific used for a person of the same or a younger generation
How 贤 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Money.
贝 gives the meaning.
Radical: 贝 (sea shell), shared by 63 characters on this site.
How to remember 贤
The bottom part 贝 (bèi) means shell or money, and above it sits a hand 又 (yòu). Picture a worthy person whose hand handles money honestly, someone you can trust with valuables.
贤 describes people of good character and ability, and it appears mostly in written or set expressions rather than casual talk. It shows up in words like 圣贤 (shèngxián, sage) and 贤惠 (xiánhuì, kind and capable, often said of a wife). Example: 她是个贤惠的妻子。 (Tā shì gè xiánhuì de qīzi.) She is a kind and capable wife.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes confuse 贤 (xián) with 坚 (jiān, firm), because both share the same top part and differ only at the bottom. Remember that 贤 has 贝 (money) underneath, while 坚 has 土 (earth).
Common words with 贤
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 圣贤 | shèngxián | a sage; wise and holy man | HSK 7-9 |
贤 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 贤
How many strokes are in 贤?
贤 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 贤 mean?
贤 (xián) means virtuous, worthy; good, able. A common word with it is 圣贤 (shèngxián), meaning "a sage; wise and holy man".
How do you pronounce 贤?
贤 is pronounced xián, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 贤?
The radical of 贤 is 贝, which carries the idea of "sea shell". Dictionaries list 贤 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 贤?
The traditional form of 贤 is 賢. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 贤 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 贤 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 贤 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 贤 used as an honorific?
In older or formal writing, 贤 is placed before a family term to address someone of the same or a younger generation politely. Examples are 贤弟 (xiándì, my worthy younger brother) and 贤侄 (xiánzhí, my worthy nephew).
What does the phrase 任人唯贤 mean?
任人唯贤 (rèn rén wéi xián) means to appoint people based only on their ability and virtue. It is often used in contrast to giving jobs to friends or relatives.