擅 shàn to be good at
to be good at; to claim; to monopolize
How to remember 擅: 扌 hand + 亶 full granary = to be good at. With one quick hand the farmer's daughter stacks every sack in the full granary, showing the village what it means to be good at farming.
Component breakdown
擅 = 扌 hand + 亶 full granary
- 扌 hand
- 亶 full granary
With one quick hand the farmer's daughter stacks every sack in the full granary, showing the village what it means to be good at farming.
How it is used
- Bound character, never used alone - always in one of two fixed compounds.
- 擅长 shàncháng "to excel/be skilled at": 他擅长游泳 "he's good at swimming."
- 擅自 shànzì "without authorization" is formal/written, common in rules and regulations: 擅自离开 "to leave without permission."