Meaning
安 is a fundamental character meaning peaceful, safe, or calm. As a verb, it means to install or to pacify. It appears in countless compound words related to safety, peace, and stability, making it one of the most productive characters in modern Chinese.
Usage
安 is rarely used alone in modern speech but appears extensively in compounds. As an adjective, it typically combines with other characters like 安全 (safe), 安静 (quiet), or 平安 (safe and sound). As a verb meaning 'to install', it's used with objects like 安门 (install a door) or 安空调 (install air conditioning).
Examples
- 01祝你一路平安。.Wishing you a safe journey.
- 02我们需要安一个新的门锁。.We need to install a new door lock.
Common collocations
- 安装to install
- 安排to arrange, to plan
- 安慰to comfort, to console
- 不安uneasy, disturbed
Antonyms
Origin
The character 安 originally depicted a woman (女) under a roof (宀), representing the concept of safety and peace within the home. This pictographic origin reflects traditional views of domestic tranquility.