HSK Words: 擅长 (shàn cháng) VS 善于 (shàn yú)

Today, we will learn the HSK Words: 擅长 (shàn cháng) VS 善于 (shàn yú), discuss and share a word that we are all familiar with---擅长 (shàn cháng) and 善于 (shàn yú). Let's study together! 

擅长 (shàn cháng) is generally only used for a certain skill, which can be followed by verbs or verb phrases, or nouns or noun phrases.

Examples:

1. I am good at dancing.
   我擅长跳舞。
    wǒ shàn cháng tiào wǔ 。
2. He is a painter and is good at painting landscapes.
   他是画家，擅长画山水。
    tā shì huà jiā ， shàn cháng huà shān shuǐ 。
3. He speaks English very well and is very good at pronunciation.
   他的英语说得很好，发音非常擅长。
    tā de yīng yǔ shuō de hěn hǎo ， fā yīn fēi cháng shàn cháng 。

善于 (shàn yú) often refers to a specialty that can be used for a skill or action, and generally cannot be followed directly by nouns or noun phrases.

Examples:

1. I am good at simplifying complex problems.
   我善于将复杂的问题简化。
    wǒ shàn yú jiāng fù zá de wèn tí jiǎn huà 。
2. The teacher is good at giving lectures in a lively and interesting way.
   这位老师善于用生动有趣的方式讲课。
   zhè wèi lǎo shī shàn yú yòng shēng dòng yǒu qù de fāng shì jiǎng kè 。
3. Xiao Zhang is good at coordination and compromise.
   小张善于协调和妥协。
   xiǎo zhāng shàn yú xié tiáo hé tuǒ xié 。

Quiz：Please consider whether to use “擅长”（shàn cháng）and “善于”（shàn yú） in  following sentences.

1. 他___于解决问题，___调各方利益。
   tā ___ yú jiě jué wèn tí ，___ diào gè fāng lì yì 。
2. 他___钢琴，同时他也___指导。
   tā ___ gāng qín ， tóng shí tā yě ___ zhǐ dǎo 。
3. 他___绘画，也___书法。
   tā ___ huì huà ， yě ___ shū fǎ 。

Answer:

1. 擅长（shàn cháng） 善于（shàn yú）
2. 擅长（shàn cháng）善于（shàn yú）
3. 擅长（shàn cháng）