安 ān peace
peace; safe; to install
How to remember 安: 宀 roof + 女 woman = peace. Once the kids are asleep, all goes quiet under the roof and the tired woman sinks into the sofa with tea and finally some peace.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
安 = 宀 roof + 女 woman
- 宀 roof meaning
- 女 woman sound
Once the kids are asleep, all goes quiet under the roof and the tired woman sinks into the sofa with tea and finally some peace.
How it came to be
The oldest form is a woman sitting under a roof; the seated woman also gives the sound.
How it is used
- Peaceful / secure, and 'to install/settle': 安全 (ānquán) safe, 安静 (ānjìng) quiet, 心里不安 (xīnlǐ bù'ān) uneasy.
- Verb sense = set in place: 安排 (ānpái) arrange, 安装 (ānzhuāng) install software/equipment.
- Fixed courtesy: 晚安 (wǎn'ān) good night. Note the apostrophe in pinyin (wǎn'ān) to keep the syllable split.
Characters built with 安
Words with 安
- 安全ānquánsafeHSK 3
- 安静ānjìngquietHSK 3
- 安排ānpáiarrangeHSK 4
- 安检ānjiǎnsecurity check (short for 安全检查)HSK 4
- 晚安wǎn’ānGood night!HSK 4
- 保安bǎo’ānto ensure public securityHSK 5
- 安全带ānquándàiseat beltHSK 5
- 安慰ānwèito comfortHSK 5
- 安装ānzhuāngto installHSK 5
- 平安píng’ānsafe and soundHSK 5
- 不安bù’ānunpeacefulHSK 6
- 公安gōng’ānPublic SecurityHSK 6
- 安定āndìngstableHSK 7
- 安心ānxīnat easeHSK 7
- 安详ānxiángsereneHSK 7
- 居安思危jū’ān-sīwēito think of danger in times of safetyHSK 7
- 心安理得xīn’ān-lǐdéto have a clear conscienceHSK 7
- 安宁ānníngpeacefulHSK 8
- 安抚ānfǔto placateHSK 8
- 安眠药ānmiányàosleeping pillHSK 8
- 安稳ānwěnsteadyHSK 8
- 安置ānzhìto find a place forHSK 8
- 安逸ānyìeasy and comfortableHSK 8
- 治安zhì’ānlaw and orderHSK 9
Example sentences
- 学校里很安静。 Xuéxiào li hěn ānjìng.It's very quiet inside the school.
- 开车要注意安全。 Kāichē yào zhùyì ān quán.We need to be cautious (lit., "pay attention to safety") when driving.
- 这条街道很安静。 Zhè tiáo jiēdào hěn ānjìng.This is a very quiet street.
- 房间为您安排好了。 Fángjiān wèi nín ānpái hǎo le.The room has been arranged for you.