Usage note
善于表示一个人很擅长做某件事，比如画画或唱歌。
Shàn yú biǎoshì yī gè rén hěn shàncháng zuò mǒu jiàn shì, bǐrú huàhuà huò chànggē.
Be good at means a person is very skilled at doing something, like drawing or singing.
Context note
如果你善于学习，就能很快掌握新知识。
Rúguǒ nǐ shàn yú xuéxí, jiù néng hěn kuài zhǎngwò xīn zhīshi.
If you are good at learning, you can quickly master new knowledge.
5 examples
小红善于画画，她的画总是很漂亮。
xiǎo hóng shàn yú huà huà， tā de huà zǒng shì hěn piào liang。
Xiao Hong is good at drawing, her paintings are always beautiful.
他善于跑步，每次比赛都得第一名。
tā shàn yú pǎo bù， měi cì bǐ sài dōu dé dì yī míng。
He is good at running and always comes first in races.
妈妈善于做饭，做的菜很好吃。
mā ma shàn yú zuò fàn， zuò de cài hěn hǎo chī。
Mom is good at cooking, the dishes she makes are delicious.
老师善于讲故事，同学们都爱听。
lǎo shī shàn yú jiǎng gù shì， tóng xué men dōu ài tīng。
The teacher is good at telling stories, and the classmates all love to listen.
我善于交朋友，所以有很多好朋友。
wǒ shàn yú jiāo péng yǒu， suǒ yǐ yǒu hěn duō hǎo péng yǒu。
I am good at making friends, so I have many good friends.
5 mini stories
小华善于弹钢琴，经常在音乐会上表演。
xiǎo huá shàn yú tán gāng qín， jīng cháng zài yīn yuè huì shàng biǎo yǎn。
Xiao Hua is good at playing the piano and often performs at concerts.
因为善于观察，小华发现了花园里的蝴蝶。
yīn wèi shàn yú guān chá， xiǎo huá fà xiàn le huā yuán lǐ de hú dié。
Because he is good at observing, Xiao Hua found the butterfly in the garden.
小丽善于跳舞，她的舞姿很优美。
xiǎo lì shàn yú tiào wǔ， tā de wǔ zī hěn yōu měi。
Xiao Li is good at dancing, her dance moves are very graceful.
小丽善于帮助别人，大家都喜欢她。
xiǎo lì shàn yú bāng zhù bié rén， dà jiā dōu xǐ huan tā。
Xiao Li is good at helping others, everyone likes her.
小明善于做手工，他做的纸飞机飞得很远。
xiǎo míng shàn yú zuò shǒu gōng， tā zuò de zhǐ fēi jī fēi dé hěn yuǎn。
Xiao Ming is good at crafts, the paper airplane he makes flies very far.
Mini dialogue
善于画画
A
她善于画画，画得真好。
Tā shànyú huà huà, huà de zhēn hǎo.
She is good at drawing, and she draws really well.
B
是啊，我也想像她一样善于画画。
Shì a, wǒ yě xiǎng xiàng tā yíyàng shànyú huà huà.
Yes, I also want to be good at drawing like her.
善于运动
A
你善于什么运动？
Nǐ shànyú shénme yùndòng?
What sport are you good at?
B
我善于游泳。
Wǒ shànyú yóuyǒng.
I am good at swimming.
Related words and contrasts
similar
擅长
shàn cháng
to be good at; to excel in
擅长 is a near synonym, often interchangeable with 善于.
opposite
不善于
bù shàn yú
not good at
不善于 is the negative form, meaning not skilled in.
related
能力
néng lì
ability; capability
能力 is the noun form, referring to one's skill or ability.