Meaning of 安
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- (bound form) calm; peaceful
- to calm; to set at ease
- safe; secure; in good health
- content; satisfied (as in 安於|安于[an1 yu2])
- to place (sb) in a suitable position (job)
- to install; to fix; to fit
- to bring (a charge against sb)
- to harbor (certain intentions)
- surname An
How to use 安
安 rarely stands alone in the sense of calm or safe. It usually appears in words like 安全 (ānquán, safe), 安静 (ānjìng, quiet) and 晚安 (wǎn'ān, good night). As a verb it can mean to install, as in 安空调 (ān kōngtiáo, to install an air conditioner). Example: 祝你一路平安。(Zhù nǐ yīlù píng'ān.) Have a safe trip.
安 (ān) shows 女 (nǚ, woman) under the roof radical 宀. Picture a woman safe at home under a roof, and you have the idea of peace and safety.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes confuse 安 with 字 (zì, character), which has 子 under the roof instead of 女. Also keep the first tone flat in 晚安 (wǎn'ān) and do not let it drop to a fourth tone.
安 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
安 ān · calm · 6 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 安.
| 安全 | ānquán | safe; secure; safety; security |
| 晚安 | wǎn'ān | Good night!; Good evening! |
| 安静 | ānjìng | quiet; peaceful |
| 平安 | píng'ān | safe and sound; well |
| 一路平安 | yīlù-píng'ān | to have a pleasant journey; Bon voyage! |
| 安排 | ānpái | to arrange; to plan |
| 保安 | bǎo'ān | to ensure public security; to ensure safety (for workers engaged in production) |
| 不安 | bù'ān | unpeaceful; unstable |
| 安装 | ānzhuāng | to install; to erect |
| 安置 | ānzhì | to find a place for; to help settle down |
| 安慰 | ānwèi | to comfort; to console |
| 治安 | zhì'ān | law and order; public security |
Questions about 安
What does 安 mean?
安 (ān) means "(bound form) calm; peaceful; to calm; to set at ease" and is used as a verb and adjective.
How do you write 安?
安 is made of 1 character: 安 (6 strokes). That is 6 strokes in total.
Is 安 an HSK word?
Yes. 安 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 安全 and 平安?
安全 (ānquán) describes safety as a condition or a feature, such as a safe road or safety rules. 平安 (píng'ān) means being safe and well, and it is common in wishes like 一路平安 (yīlù píng'ān).
Can 安 mean to install something?
Yes. In everyday speech 安 can mean to install or fit, as in 安门 (ān mén, to fit a door). 安装 (ānzhuāng) is the more formal two-character word for this.